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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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Book '"B^B'2~ 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES 



OF 



BRISTOL BOROUGH, 

IN THE COUNTY OF BUCKS. ANCIENTLY KNOWN AS 
"BUCKINGHAM:" 



BEING THE 



SECGtND CHARTERED BOROUGH 

IN 

PENNSYLVANIA; 

COMMENCING WITH ITS 

Colonial Settlement, in 1681, 

AND CLOSING WITH THE YEAR 

1853. 

BY WILLIAM BACHE. 



BRISTOL, PA. 
1853. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in thenar 1853, by 
WILLIAM BACHE, 
in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court for the Eastern 
District of Pennsylvania. 






WM. BACHE, PRINTER. 



PREFACE 



The appearance in public of this little narrative of important 
and interesting events in the foundation and subsequent history 
of the ancient corporation of Bristol Borough, is in some degree 
due to the solicitation of influential citizens. It had its origina- 
tion in the personal desire of the compiler to acquaint himself 
with a knowledge of the by-gone public affairs of the town. 

The compiler feels justified in saying, that his researches 
have been carefully and amply made, and close attention has 
been bestowed in the revision of his own labours, especially in the 
securing of accuracy in dates and names ; and it is believed to 
be as free from error or misguidance as books of like character 
may rightfully lay claim to. No event recorded has been consi- 
dered of too slight importance to be worthy of his searching for 
and recording all its particularities, with the historical authori- 
ties and references noted. 

With the fixed purpose of occupying as little space as possi- 
ble, brevity of words has been preferred to a more studied style 
of language, not only by the compiler, but also on the part of his 
contributors. 

Should this little harvesting of local events prove an accepta- 
ble offering to the people, as a work of utility, the efl?brts be- 
stowed in its gathering will not have been misapplied, which in 
itself will aflibrd feelings of gratification to 

THE COMPILER. 



HISTORY OF BRISTOL 



Period First.~[1681.3 

"BUCKINGHAM" PIONEERS. 

" I trace thy tale 
To the dim point where records fail." 

Among the earliest projects of our colonial predecessors who 
settled on the lands bordering" upon the Delaware river, was the 
selection of the more desirable sites for the erection of villages. 
One of these, which claimed their first attention, was that upon 
the western bank of the Delaware, north of Neshaminey creek. 
An account of the first provincial settlement, original design, 
and subsequent progress of that ancient corporation, then called 
the town of Buckingham, in the district of country then bearing 
the same name, (now in the county of Bucks,) will be found to 
be briefly compiled in the following pages. 

The site upon which the Borough of Bristol is erected, is a 
part of a tract of land granted under warrant of Sir Edmond 
Andros, Provincial Governor of New York, to Samuel Clift, in 
March, 1681 : being about the same period with the date of the 
Proprietory Charter of Charles II. to the Founder of Pennsyl- 
vania (4th of March, 1681,) ; and about four months prior to the 
conditions and agreements entered into between William Penn 
and the "adventurers and purchasers in the same province," 
(July, 1681.) The brief recital of this grant of Gov. Andros is, 
for " a large tract of land lying on the Delaware river, at the 

2 



O HISTORY Of BRISTOt. 

mouth of Mill creek, and extending up said river and creek,^ 
&c., — under which title the warrantee seated and improved the 
land. 

By deed dated 9th mo., 23d, 1682, Samuel Clift devises this 
tract in fee simple to Joseph English. 

By deed dated 12th mo., 20th, 1695, part of the above, and in- 
cluding tiiat now embraced within the corporate limits, (extend- 
ing from the mouth of Mill creek, up the river Delaware,) and 
containing one-half of a survey of twenty-two acres, was con- 
veyed to Anthony Burton and Thomas Brock; — and by deed 
from Peter White and Elizabeth his wife, dated 1st mo., 16th, 
1096, the other moiety of the above twenty-two acres was 
granted to the said Burton and Brock. 

By deed of partition, dated 4th mo., 8th, 1696, the above was 
divided, in severalty, between Anthony Burton and Thomai 
Brock. 

Under this partition deed, the town plot appears to have been 
originally staked out into streets and building lots, by the afore- 
mentioned Burton, Brock, and White, the latter of whom either 
retained or purchased the north-western limits, or that portion 
now intersected by the Delaware Division Pa. Canal. 

The beautiful and luxuriant sections of country on either side 
of the lovely Delaware, everywhere offered inviting induce- 
ments to the early settlers in selecting places and rearing their 
intended homesteads. Their dwellings were chiefly built of 
heavy forest timber, known as " log cabins." At the lapse of 
about the first fifteen years from its civil settlement, lands in 
the south-eastern portion of that section of country known as 
Buckingham, skirting the Delaware, even before Philadelphia 
was designed and laid out, were eagerly taken up and settled 
upon, the patentees deriving their titles from Gov. Andres. (See 
Watson's Annals, i. pp. 10, 11.) — And, indeed, strong expecta- 
tions had been entertained, that the city of Philadelphia would 
have been founded at "Buckingham," or Bristol; but their 
cherished hopes were overruled, mainly in consequence of the 
river navigation being more favorable to heavy shipping further 
down. There were some who even anticipated the erection of 
that city at Pennsbury, the favored homestead of the Proprietor; 



BUCKINGHAM PIONEERS. 7 

Others again at Byberry, then distinctly known as a " Friends'* 
settlement, which, indeed, appears for a time to have been once 
called " Old Pfiiladelphia." 

About 1697, the "county of Buckingham" began to wear 
an aspect more in consonance with the desires, enjoyments, and 
customs of refined life ; and was daily becoming more closely 
settled with colonists, chiefly members of the Society of Friends, 
and of the English Episcopal Church. (Col. Rec. i. p. 480.) — 
Says Watson, (An. ii. p. 75,) "This county had its first settlers 
located nearest to the neighborhood of Bristol and Pennsbury. 
They were nearly all of them of the Society of Friends; among 
them, James Harrison and Phineas Pemberton were most influ- 
ential and conspicuous." . . . . " The Indians were round 
about in small settlements, in almost every direction. Some 
long after dwelt on the * Indian Field,' near Penn's estate." 

In the lapse of the first quarter century, an Act was passed 
for erecting in the Borough " a more commodious prison and 
court-house," passed 7th of March, 1745, and confirmed by Lords 
Justices Oct, 29th, 1748.* In it were held the Courts of Gene- 
ral Quarter Sessions of the Peace, and of Common Pleas. At 

* The first court-house and prison erected in this county, was, by 
an Act passed in 1705, authorized to be sold, and provision made for 
building- a ne\y court house and prison. And, Feb. 17, 1722, "And 
another house of correction or work-house shall be built in Bristol, 
at the charge of the county of Bucks." This appears to have been 
a small house of correction and a whipping-post, which were re- 
moved in 1724-or-5. 1720— "The Sheriff and Clerks of the courts 
for the time being, if not residents of the said borough, shall ap- 
point and constitute sufficient deputies, who shall from time to time 
reside or constantly attend in the said town of Bristol, to perform 
the duties of their respective offices." March 20th, 1724, (the same 
now to be removed from Bristol,) an Act was passed, entitled " to 
enable Jeremiah Langhorne, Wm. Biles, Joseph Kirkbride, Thomas 
Watson, M. D., and Abraham Chapman, to build a new court-house 
and prison in Bucks county," by which the same were erected at 
Newtown. Again, March 7th, 1745, an Act "for erecting a house 
of correction and work-house in the Borough of Bristol " was pass- 
ed, in connexion with certain corporation privileges of the borough. 
In the year 1810 the seat of justice for Bucks county was removed 
to Doylestown ; very creditable buildings, consisting of a substan- 
tial court-house, offices and jail, were erected on the same ground 
plot, at convenient distances ; at which place the county courts have 
been since held, and prison punishments inflicted. 



8 BISTORT or BRISTOL. 

which place also, for a long period the Borough and County 
elections were held * It is said, that the first court held in 
Pennsylvania was in this county; but however reliable this may 
be as an item of published history, we find first among our re- 
searches, that the Governor and Council exercised the judicial 
prerogative in both civil and criminal trials in 1683, the first 
upon record being at Philadelphia.-^ It is also said (in Watson, 

• In 1785 Bucks county contained by Act of Assembly but^YxvcT'*' 
election districts : one at Abraham Keichline's, and the other at 
Newtown; and in 1798 the county was divided into five election 
districts, by which, elections were again held in Bristol, at the old 
court house, in Cedar street, above Market, which building has since 
been altered and converted into a private dwelling. 

f In one of which a Margaret Matson is tried for witchcraft ; 
and as it is a curious affair, we cannot resist giving it a place here. 

"At a Councill held at Philadelphia ye 27th of ye 12vh mo. 1683.. 
— Present, Wm. Penn, Proper and Govr. ; James Harrison, Wm. 
Biles, Lasse Cock, Wm. Haigue, Chris. Taylor, Wm. Clayton, Tho. 
Holmes. — The Grand Jury made their returne, and found the bill. — 
Margarit Matson's Indictm^' was read, and she pleads not guilty, 
and will be tryed by the Countrey. — The Petty Jury Impanneld.— 
Henry Drystreet attested, Saith he was tould 20 years agoe, that the 
prisoner at the Barr was a Witch, & that severall Cowes were be- 
witcht by her; also, that James Saunderling's mother tould him 
that she bewitcht her cow, but afterwards said it was a mistake, and 
that her Cow should doe well againe, for it was not her Cow but an 
Other Persons that should dye. — Charles Asheom attested, saith that 
Anthony's Wife being asked why she sould her Cattle ; was because 
her mother had Bewitcht them, having taken the Witchcraft of of 
Hendrick's Cattle, and put it on their Oxon ; She myght Keep but 
noe Other Cattle, and also that one night the Daughter of ye Pris- 
oner called him up hastely, and when he came she sayd there was 
a great Light but Just before, and an Old woman with a Knife in 
her hand at ye Bedd's feet, and therefore shee cryed out and desired 
Jno. Symcock to take av^ay his Calves, or Else she would send them 
to Hell. — Annakey Coolin attested, saith her husband tooke the 
Heart of a Calfe that Dyed, as they thought, by Witchcraft, and 
Boyled it, whereupon the Prisoner at ye Barr came in and asked 
them what they were doing ; they said boyling of flesh ; she said 
they had better they had Boyled the Bones, with severall other un- 
seemly Expressions. — Magarit Mattson saith that she Valines not 
Drystreet's Evidence ; but if Sanderlin's mother had come, she 
would have answered her ; also denyeth Charles Ashcom's Attesta- 
tion at her Soul, and saith where is my Daughter ; let her come and 
say to. Annakey Cooling's attestation concerning the Gees, she de. 
nyeth, saying she was never out of her Conoo, and also that she 



BUCKINGHAM PIONEERS. 9 

ii. p. 98,) that the oldest record to be found in the State is now 
deposited in one of the offices at Doylestown, being a register of 
" ear-marks for sheep and cattle," made about 1681. " The next 
record," (Orphans' Court, No. 1,) " bears date 4th day, 1st mo., 
1693,* and was held at the private dwelling of Gilbert Wheeler ; 
present, the Gov. William Penn, with Justices James Harrison* 
Jonathan Otter, Wm. Yardley, Wm. Beaks, and Thomas Fitz- 
water; Phineas Pemberton, Clerk." — (How familiar with our 
people are these old colonial names !) — " The next court was 
held at Pennsbury ; the next again at Gilbert Wheeler's, 7th or 
8th mo. 1684." (Ibid.) 

The old court-house and prison of 1705 was built in Cedar 
street, between Market and Mulberry, and nearly opposite to the 
present Mason's Hall. It was a two story brick edifice ; court 
room up-stairs from an out-door entrance, and prison below ; and 
a stationary whipping-post attached to the outer walls. In after 
years the elections were long held there ; and it was also con- 
verted into a school-house and used as such for some years. Fi- 
nally, it was sold, with the lot, in 1834, William Kinsey, Esq., 
our present Burgess, being the purchaser. 
/ _____ — ■ 

never said any such things Concerning the Calves' heart. The pri- 
soner denyeth all things, and saith that ye Wittnesses speake only 
by hear say. After wch ye Govr gave the Jury their Charge con- 
cerning ye Prisoner at ye Barr. The Jury went forth, and upon 
their Returne Brought her in Guilty of haveing the Comon fame of 
a Witch, but not Guilty in manner and forme as Shee Stands In- 
dicted. Neels Mattson and Antho. Neelson Enters into a Recogni- 
zance of fifty pounds apiece, for the good behavior of Margarit 
Matson for six months." 

• Watson is not here strictly truthful. In early times of the co- 
lony a registry of persons settling in the several counties were kept. 
An instance follows : " Wm. Buckman of the Parish of Billinghurst, 
in the county of Sussex, Carpenter. — Arrived in Delaw^are river in 
the Welcome, the Master Robert Greenway, with his wife Sarah, in 
the 8th mo. 1682 ; children, Sarah, Mary." See Record at Doyles- 
town, kept by Phineas Pemberton, Clerk. 

The reader will bear in mind, that prior to 1752, March was 
dated as the 1st month; consequently this event was in the 11th 
month, which would account for the fact that when the vessel land- 
ed at Chester, the emigrants went ashore in the evening, and walked 
back in the morning upon the ice. 

2* 



10 BISTORT OF BRISTOL. 

It is said by Henry Tomlinson, one of our ancient citizens, 
that he well remembers the locality of the building where the 
fairs were originally held. It stood in Mill street, opposite to 
Cedar. The second one built stood near the intersection of Cedar 
and Market streets. The items of cost for its erection are re- 
ported (Boro. Rec. Sept. 4, 1819,) to be $285 03. In 1832 it 
became necessary to remove it, and the materials and lot were 
sold ; as was also the old hay-scales. 

The chalybeate springs at Bath, in Bristol, which first obtain- 
ed celebrity in 1722, attracted large numbers to this place as a 
summer resort, and, it has been said, even some from Europe 
have visited them especially on account of their sanatory repu- 
tation abroad ; while many have derived benefit from their use 
both medicinally and as a bath. For some years, the Bath pro- 
perty was almost altogether neglected, and the spacious mansion 
house and outbuildings were suffered to become so dilapidated as 
to render this valuable property almost untenantable. Latterly, 
however, this estate was purchased by Mr. Chas. Hepburn, who 
has thoroughly repaired and enlarged the establishment, and with 
unsparing liberality improved and beautified the grounds. The 
old mineral springs, have been thoroughly cleansed and fitted 
for their respective uses, and a chemical analyses of the waters 
carefully made and noted. The establishment is now popularly 
sustained as a summer house, both by those who visit it for their 
health, and others for pleasure and pastime. 

An anecdote is related by Watson, which may be here no- 
ticed. — He tells us, that " when James Harrison and his son-in- 
law Phineas Pemberton first entered Philadelphia on horseback, 
from Choptank in Maryland," (Nov. 1682,) "they could not 
procure entertainment for their horses;" — they — "spancelled 
them," — and — " turned them out in the woods !" Having sought 
for them the next morning, and for two days, in vain, they gave 
up the search for the time, and were obliged to take a boat in 
order to proceed on their way up to Buckingham, the place of 
their destination, (i. p. 47.) 

The success of the Pennsylvania colonial enterprise, which 
was equal to the most sanguine hopes of its illustrious founder 
and law-giver ; the " unbroken chain of friendship" and confi- 



BITKINOHAM PIOKEERS. 11 

dence which was maintained, "ever bright and untarnished," 
between the colonists and the Indians, under the system of 
mutual concessions* adopted by William Penn, operating more 
favorably than the unwise, if not unjust policy, of the neighbor- 
ing colonies, especially that of Lord Baltimore, afforded perhaps 
feelings of greater satisfaction and security from assault, on the 
part of settlers here. And on this account, it may be fairly sur- 
mised, it was in some measure, that lands in this immediate 
neighborhood, comprised within the tract then called Bucking- 
ham, commanded their first attention. Besides, the supposition 
appears reasonable, that many, especially those embued with the 
religious sentiments of the Society of Friends, should have che- 
ished an inward desire to locate themselves in a near proximity 
to the favorite spot chosen as the manor of their good and great 
patriarch and founder. 



Fading remembrances of Pennsbury! Now quiet, changed 
and neglected; where once the forest sires of a noble race oft 
had met in friendly covenant, with the solemnity of worship and 
the joyfulness of dancing, uniting in council and in sacred com- 
pact with the white faces who have supplanted them, I cannot 
pass unnoticed thy almost renowned retreat. 

The old mansion-house, v/hich was by some called " Penn's 
Palace," in those early days, was built in 1682-3, at a cost of 
£7,000. A large portion of the materials, especially for the 
ornamental parts, were sent from England by William Penn. — 
The letters of instruction to his friends having charge of the 
buildings and in laying out and improving the grounds, bespeak 
the deep interest he felt in having everything about his manor 
done in close conformity with his taste and wishes. But, alas, 
few and troubled were the days he was permitted there to spend. 
Not until after an almost compulsory absence of fifteen years in 
England, did he reside at Pennsbury, where he remained less 

* See the Articles of agreement, made in Council, 23d of 2d mo. 
1701, first with " Connoodaghtoh, king of the Sasquehannah Min- 
quays or Conestoga Indians, Wopathlha, king of the Shawanese, 
Weewhinjough, Chief of the Ganawese," &c., and with other tribes, 
in vol. i. ii. and iii. of the Colonial Records. 



12 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 

than two years (in 1700-1,); during which period he was much 
absent at Philadelphia and New Castle with his Council. 

All that has escaped the decay of years and the ever shaping" 
hand of man, to mark the original aspect of the spot, is that 
familiarly remembered as the " malt house." At Pennsbury, in 
1701, on the eve of the second departure of the Proprietor for 
England, (a memorable departure, for he was never again ena- 
bled to return,) Governor Penn, with a number of his Council, 
held one of the largest Indian councils that had been convened 
in the Province ; which we find recorded as having closed with 
" music, worship, and dancing." But now, how changed ! — And 
these Lenni (original) Lenape (people), where are they ? — We 
are told that the last of the " Dela wares,"* (as we have named 
them,) went off from Buckingham, in a body, in the year 1775. 

" Forced from the land that gave them birth, 
They dwindle from the face of earth." 

Yes, they have disappeared, — and Pennsbury too is almost for- 
gotten. None have placed a monumental stone to record its 
name and remembrance ; and while at later times our beautiful 
Delaware is becoming studded with its young and rising towns, 
none have seconded the early wished for hopes, which had 
marked out Pennsbury among the first. 

* Tamanend, their king or chief, who was an Indian much be- 
loved and confided in by William Penn, for his integrity and many 
virtues, was buried near a spring, south of what is now Prospect 
Hill School, in Buckingham township, about four miles from Doyles- 
town. He died in a cabin in the woods, and was buried by the 
kindness of a neighbor. His grave was for many years marked by 
a pile of stones thrown there to keep animals from disinterring the 
body. — See Heckewelder j see Jnd. Hist.j cK xv. p. 183. 



THE MARKET TOWN. 13 



Period Second.— [1697.] 

THE "MARKET TOWN." 

*' Where homes of humble form and structure rude, 
Raise sweet society in solitude." 

So great had been the influx of population into our locality, 
that as early as June, 1697, a number of the more active and 
far seeing- settlers conceived the local advantages afforded in 
the plot of land on which the Borough of Bristol now stands, for 
the erection of what they significantly termed "a market town;'''' 
(Col. Rec. i. p. 480,) — and on the impulse of what appeared to 
them a " necessity," they petitioned the colonial government for 
the privilege of erecting the same. 

At the time of the presentation of the petition before the Pro- 
vincial Council, (on the 10th of June, 1697,) that ancient body 
were then in session at the house of Phineas Pemberton, w^ho, 
being a practical surveyor, and personally interested in the pro- 
posed scheme, was very properly chosen by the Board to draft 
the plan and mark the dimensions of the town. At this period 
of our provincial history, (the 19lh year of the colony,) there 
were six counties, viz: Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Nevv Cas- 
tle, Kent, and Sussex. These respective counties made return 
of twelve delegates each, the Governor making choice of three 
from each return, for Councilmen, the remaining fifty-four con- 
stituting the Assembly.* There were present at the session of 

• In a letter of information from William Penn to the "Company 
of Free Traders," dated Philadelphia, 16th of Hth Mo. (Aug.), 1683, 
the Proprietor says, "The planted part of the Province and Territo- 
ries is cast into six counties : Philadelphia, Buckingham, Chester, 
Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex; containing about 4000 souls. Two 
General Assemblies have been held, and with such concord and dis- 
patch, that they sat three weeks and at least seventy laws were 
passed without one dissent in any material thing. And for the well 
government of said counties, courts of justice are established in 
every county, with proper officers as Justices, Sheriffs, Clerks, Con- 



14 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 

Council above mentioned, as follow : William Markham, Lieut. 
Got. ; Samuel Carpenter, Joseph Growdon, Caleb Pusey, and 
Phineas Pemberton, Councilmen. 

The original draft of the " Market Town" plot by Pemberton 
has not been preserved among the records of the town. The 
oldest original draft believed now to be in preservation, is that of 
John Cutler, made the 13th of 7th mo. 1715, which is much de- 
faced and obliterated from frequent handling. This draft by 
Cutler purports to be drawn " according to Phineas Pemberton's 
surrey, with some amendments" (evidently meaning a further 
extension of the town plot,) " by an agreement of the inhabit- 
ants." On this draft we find the town laid out into twelve 
blocks or squares, and eleven suburbal parts or fractions.* 

etables; which courts are held every two months. But to prevent 
law suits, there are three Peace-makers chosen by every County 
Court, in the nature of common arbitrators, to hear and end differ- 
ences between man and man. And Spring- and Fall there is a» 
Orphans' Court in each county, to inspect and regulate the affairs of 
orphans and widows." — (^See Janney''s Life of Penn, p. 247.) 

* The names of the lot-holders, with their respective local places, 
as presented on Cutler's draft, are — 

On west side of Mill street, from the dock to Cedar St. — 1. Joseph 
Growdon. Cedar to Wood — 1. Phineas Pemberton; 2. John While. 
Wood to Pond — 1. Robert Brown; 2. John Smith; 3. Thos. Mus- 
grove; 4. John Town ; 5. Samuel Carpenter. (Although not upon 
the draft, the compiler has reliable authority in saying that Samuel 
Carpenter's plot extended north of Pond street, embracing all that 
valuable property long- known as "the Bristol Mills.") 

Mill Street, east side, from Water to Radcliffe St. — 1. Thomas 
Brock. Radcliffe to Cedar — 1. Thomas Brock ; 2_HRnf Y Raker :. 
3, Anthony Burton. Cedar to Wood, (and, Mill To 'Market St.)— I. 
Phineas Pemberton ; 2. Samuel Bown ; 3. Wm. Croasdale ; 4. Sam'l 
Oldale. Wood to Pond, (and, Mill to Market,)— I. John White ; 2. 
John Smith ; 3. Thos. Musgrove. Lands north of Pond, lying be- 
tween Mill and Mulberry streets, were owned by Thomas Brock ; 
and north-east of Brock's by John Town, Thomas Musgrove, John 
Smith and John White. 

Market Street, west side, from Water to Radcliffe — 1. Anthony- 
Burton. Radcliffe to Cedar — 1. Ant. Burton ; 2. Thos. Brock. 

Market St., east side, from Water to Cedar — \, Samuel Carpenter. 
Cedar to Wood — 1. Phineas Pemberton; 2. Sam'l Carpenter. Wood 
to Pond, (east of Market to Walnut,) lands of John White and 
John Town. 

Mulberry Street, toest side, from Water to Wood— I. Peter White. 



Tflfi MARKEt TOWIC. 



15 



' It is proper to notice that nearly all the early papers and re- 
cords belonging to the corporation, (say from about the year 1700 
to 1749, and others of more recently intervening periods,) have 
been lost, some destroyed by rats, and others scattered abroach; a 
fact to be regretted by many, as it involves much of our local 
history in obscurity. (See Minutes of the Corporation, 1807.) — 
Still enough may be searched out from what is remaining, to- 
gether with other data connected therewith, interspersed through 
books, to afford sufficient matter to make this little compilation 
somewhat interesting to our citizens. 

Some of the earliest records of the county appear also to have 
suffered a like fate ; and we are told by that indefatigable an- 
nalist, J. F. Watson, that when the road from Philadelphia to 
Buckingham "was across the Neshamony, at Galloway's ford, 
one mile above Hulmeville, through Langhorne's park, thence 
by Attleborough,"— " Near that ford once stood Growdon's old 
fire proof, in which were kept the records of Bucks county ; and 
when Joseph Galloway went off with the British in 1778 the 
office was broken open and the records strewed about, to the use 
of any who might possess them."* (ii. p. 100.) 

The petition for the erection of the " market town" was re- 
ceived by the Colonial Board with marked favor : the original of 
which displays a good degree of sound judgment and discern- 
ment on the part of its projectors. Among the "liberties" ask- 
ed for, were, the right of" wharfing and building to a convenient 
distance into the river and creek,"—" that every street and 
opening towards the river and creek may be allowed to be a 



East side of Mulberry, from Water to Radcliffe-^Anihony Burton. 
Radcliffe to Cedar— I: A. Burton; 2. T. Brock. Cedar to Wood— 
1. Phin. Pemberton ; 2. Thos. Brock. 

Walnut St., west side, from Water to Radcliffe— 1. Thos. Brock. 
Radcliffe to Cedar— i. Thos. Brock ; 2. Anthony Burton. Cedar to 
Wood — Thomas Brock. 

East side of Walnut, (from Water street, north 45o west to Cedar 
•treet,") lands of Robert Brown. 

• The old fire-proof has not been entirely demolished; enough is 
»till existing to attest the fact of the attack made upon it, while its 
old door, perforated with buUet-holes from the British musketry, rrg 
arc told, ha» been still preserred. 



16 BISTO&T or BRISTOL. 

public landing," — "that the buildings on the bank may be so 
regulated as there may be a street, under the bank, both to the 
river and creek," &c. (Col. Rec. iii. p. 49.) 

A'speedy assent having been granted by the Board, in accord- 
ance with their desires, (the town plot being carefully surveyed 
and staked out by Phineas Pemberton,) immediately houses and 
shop's were in progress of erection ; and so encouraging and 
prosperous was the enterprise, not only in the building up of the 
town in accordance with its original design, but it had an early 
character for the advantages which it both afforded and derived 
as an emporium of trade. 

Ferries and landings were now being established by authority 
at various important points upon the river ; one between this 
town and Burlington;* one at Duncken Williams', (now known as 
Dunks';) and over the Neshamony ; and at other required places. 
Also, the original road from the •* Falls" to the Ferry at Bris- 
tol, the " king's highway," (now the Philadelphia and Trenton 
pike,) and a number of other roads, important to the welfare of 
Bristol, were surveyed and opened by Thomas Fairlamb and 
others, as early as 1696; facilities which, at the very outset, 
tended to the direct benefit, growth and prosperity of the town. 
So that, in the lapse of about twenty years, (1718,) the towns- 
people then deemed it essential to the interests of the place, 
that it should be erected into a Borough. 

Whereupon, " Anthony Burton, John Hall, William Watson, 
Joseph Bond, and others," petitioned the colonial government 
therefor. (Town Rec.) — A "unanimous opinion" was expressed 
in its favor ; and the petitioners were instructed to apply to the 
then Attorney General for a suitable draft for that purpose ; — 
which they immediately did; and having obtained one which 
appeared satisfactory to them, it was submitted to and approved 

• Ameng the earlier " Acts psssed by the General Assembly of 
the Province of New Jersey, the 17th of March, 1713, in the 12th 
and 13th years of Queen Anne," is one establishing a ferry from the 
town of Burlington to the town of New Bristol. 

By the Pennsylvania acts, ferries were established over the Dela- 
ware river and the Neshamony creek the 7th of June, 1712 ; one at 
the Falls, 31st of May, 1718; while Duncken Williams's ferry wa« 
in use of the two provinces as early as year 1696. 



THE MARKET TOWN. 17* 

by the Colonial Board, on the 19th of July, 1720. (Col. Rec. iii. 
p. 96.) — But it was not alone necessary to obtain the assent of 
the local government here, whose powers were exceedingly 
limited, but every important public measure was required to be 
submitted directly to the approbation or sanction of the crown. 
A due return was received by the anxious expectants, with the 
necessary Letters Patent, bearing date the 14ih of November, 
1720.* 

It is worthy of a passing notice, that Samuel Carpenter, who 
in his day was an influential and has been represented as a 
wealthy man, once owned the estate called " Bristol Mills, (now. 
the property of our enterprising townsman John Dorrance,) and' 
also "the Island against Burlington, of 350 acres." (Watson, i. 
p. 520.r 

In the year 1773 stage coaches, (being the first of that char- 
acter,) were established by Messrs. C. Bessonett &, Co., of Bris- 
toj, "to run from Philadelphia to New York, in two days, for the 
fare of four dollars." (Watson, i. p. 219.) ^^^ ,.:' — 

* We here present a brief synopsis of the corporate powers of this 
ancient grant. In the preamble is set forth "George, by the g^race' 
of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the 
Faith," &c. — to the petitioners — *' formerly adventurers into the 
Province of Pennsylvania, and owners of a certain tract or site of 
land formerly called Buckingham, in the county of Bucks, — did — ' 
appropriate several of their lots — lying — on the river Delaware — to 
build and settle upon." " And that many people since have been 
encouraged to erect buildings — lay out public streets — as also to 
erect a Church and Meeting-house — and — caused a Court-liouse and 
Prison to be erected there. — And we being. willing to promote trade,, 
industry, rule, and good order, amongst all our loving subjects — .'^ 
have erected and by these presents do erect the said Town of Bris- 
tol into a Borough — ." Then follow the courses and distances o^F 
the Borough bounds; the pames and regulation of the streets as 
laid out; reservation for wharves and landings; "Joseph Bond and, 
John Hall to be present Burgesses, and Thomas Clifford, High Con- 
stable — ;" their powers^^nd duties; H. Constable to be Clerk of the' 
market; and fairs and markets established, and a general grant of 
franchise " unto the,.said Burgesses, Constable, and Inhabitants — , 
and to their successors — ." 



18 HISTORY Oy BRJST02/, 



Period of the Revolution. 

LOCAL INCIDENTS. 

•' I'll tell you a story—." 

Although the anecdotes told of the war of Independence 
cannot be counted for multitude, nevertheless there are many 
interesting incidents which now only exist as a dream of me- 
mory in the minds of our older people. We here present such 
interesting' incidents of the Revolution, occurring in and near our 
Borough, as they have been told us, or otherwise obtained. 

" I say the tale a8 't was said to me.'* 

About Dec. 1776, General Cadwalader had under his com- 
mand at Bristol an encampment of about 3,000 troops; and in 
April, 1777, about 1500 soldiers were billeted on the inhabit- 
ants. Says Wm. J. Duane, Esq., in a private letter written to 
the compiler in 1849, in connexion with other remembrances of 
1799, " Above your town about half a mile there was a camp 
for a part of what was called ' John Adams's standing army ; 
and on one occasion there was much excitement in the town in 
consequence of the circumstance that one of the captains (Gibbs), 
stationed in the camp, put an offending soldier into an oven as a 
punishment. I doubt whether any of your oldest inhabitants 
remember this circumstance ; but I do. Subsequently I became 
acquainted with Capt. Gibbs, who, indeed, may be yet living." 

The following details, (believed to be now first given in print,) 
liave been communicated to us by our venerable townsmen, David 
Swain, Sr., Samuel Allen, and Henry Tomlinson, Esqrs. 

Where our venerable townsman Samuel Allen, Esq., now 
owns and resides, (corner of Otter and Mill streets,) was once a 
guard-house; and Bristol having raised a company of militia, 
they had their armory in a small brick building then attached to 
the same house, which was torn away, and the house remodeled 
in 1852. This company had a cannon planted at the forks of 



PERWt) OF TUfi REVOLVTION. 19 

the road, and they kept sentries posted at night, &c. A de- 
tachment of loyalists v/ho had gone over to the British cause, 
nothing daunted, determined to capture the town, and a party 
of light-horsemen were detailed for the purpose ; they arrived 
at the ford now called Flushing Mills, below Newportville, 
in the night, and secreted themselves under cover of the trees 
and bank of the creek, until the booming of the morning gun 
announced that the last sentry had retired from his post; when, 
muffling their horses' feet, they smartly pursued their course to 
the town, and found its inhabitants all fast asleep. They quick- 
ly placed a guard at the door of each house of any apparent 
importance, and forced the occupants from their beds, many of 
them not even allowed time to dress, and marshaled them in a 
line along by where Sam'l Allen's house is. Here they were 
allowed to send for clothing and finish dressing. One fellow, an 
ensign in the company, attempted an escape, by running away 
across the meadow, which was then banked in, but which is now 
a marsh at the mouth of Mill creek. He was pursued by a 
horseman, who, on nearing him, ordered him to stop, which 
order not being obeyed, was very unceremoniously enforced by 
a sabre-cut upon the head.* 

A townsman living in the house now occupied by Mr. Jesse 
Knight, (the dwelling attached to the Mill property,) was aroused 
in the morning by some one calling at the door that the British 
had possession of the town; which he did not believe, thinking 
that some of the family were trying to amuse themselves at his 



* Says Mr. Tomlinson, in a note to the compiler, "Those men 
who went to the British in Philadelphia, and formed themselves into 
a company of light-horse, to plunder, distress, and take prisoners, 
entered Bristol on the morning of Good Friday, 1777; and began 
their brutal conduct by breaking into houses, and dragging the men 
from their beds, without giving them time to put on their small 
clothes. They beat them on their backs, with their swords, telling 
them to ' remember Good Friday.' Among those taken from this 
place were, Edward Church, an infirm old man and a pious Friend; 
Richard Gosline, Thomas Broom, John Green, and Levi Douglass ; 
to be dealt with as the British officers might choose. Cunningham, 
the jail-keeper, let some starve to death, as I have been told by my 
wife, such being the fate of her father, William Heeton, in that 
Walnut street prison, Philadelphia.*' 



20 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 

expense. In a few minutes an axe came flying through the 
door, making the splinters fly in every direction, when he with- 
out stopping to dress, and rushing to the foot of the stairs, saw 
that the only chance for escape was by dodging under the horse'a 
neck, which attempting, the horseman made a stroke at him 
with his sword, which luckily took eflfect in the top of the post 
attached to the steps, splitting it some six inches or more. 

The captain of the militia company, whom they most wanted, 
they were not able to find ; he being secreted in the garret of 
an old frame house at the corner of Bath and Mill streets, where 
now stands the brick building occupied as a store and dwelling. 

After getting all the principal citizens they could find, they 
took them as prisoners of war to Philadelphia ; no one but the 
ensign being hurt, nor were any depredations of much account 
committed. The prisoners were there detained some two or 
three months, and then released. 

During the Revolution the river shore at Bristol was skirted 
with a sentry of gondolas and barges, which were chiefly used 
for telegraphing. 

Whilst a portion of the American army were quartered in the 
Borough, the old Episcopal Church, (then having fallen into 
decay,) was used as a stabling for their horses ; while the old 
Friends' Meeting-house, being in a better condition, was made 
an hospital for their sick.* Some of the bodies of the soldiers 
who had died were buried in the Episcopal burial ground; others 

• Before the Revolution, as appears by the oldest Town Records 
now preserved, the old style of entry for meetings was — "At a 

Towns Meeting held ye — th day of , and in the 5th year of the 

Reign of his Majesty Kinsf George the Second, Anno Domini 1731, 
in and for the said Boro', Present," &c. At another entry the Re- 
cords furnish the following, — " At a Towns Meeting the 8th day of 
Nov'er, 1757. — The Chief Burgess having informed this Towns 
Meeting tht a Detachm't of near 200 men of the 35th Regim't is 
expected to be in this Boro' to-morrow, and that a great Number of 
the King's Troops will shortly take the same Rout in Marching to 
their Winter Quarters, and that the Tavern Keepers in Town will 
not be able to receive into their Houses or accommodate such De- 
tachm'ts as will probably halt here, at one time ; Wherefore, it is 
Ordered, That the High Const'le of this Boro' do immediately put 
the old Court House in such order as it may be fit to receive so many 
as it will conveniently hold; and that firewood, straw, &c. be pro- 



PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION. 21 

in the burial ground below " the old guard-house," (Otter street,) 
latterly known as " tlie Baptists' lot," and now the property in 
trust of the Board of School Directors, upon which is now being 
built the second Public School-house for the Borough.* 

Gilbert Hicks, the grandfather of Edward and Elias, was High 
Sheriff of Bucks County at the commencement of the Revolu- 
tion. In the fall of 1776, after the Declaration of Independence, 
he called court in the king's name ; which gave great offence to 
the liberty portion of the citizens, so much that they assembled 
in mass at Newtown, on the day court was ordered. Gilbert 
had become aware that the course was not acceptable to the 
mass of the people. At the time, he lived in the brick house at 
the corner, in Attleborough, which he had built for his own use. 
On the present occasion he had a negro servant mounted on a 
fleet horse at Newtown, and his friends mingled with the crowd, 
to ascertain the result of their deliberations. After a time it 



vided by him, and an acc't of the expense thereof, w'th what other 
expense may accrue by reason of the marching and counter-march- 
ing of the Kings Troops through this Boro', and his own attendance 
in Billeting and providing of Carriages, &c. be kept by him, to be 
laid before the Commissioners of the County for their Order to pay 
the same. But in case they should refuse to give such Order (w'ch 
in right they ought not to do,) then it is to be paid out of the Stock 
of This Corporation." 

Under date of Oct. 17, 1814, the following record is made : "The 
Inhabitants of the Borough of Bristol were notified to a meeting at 
the Council Chamber, at 3 o'clock, to consider the best mode of re- 
lieving those families of drafted Militia that may be in want. It 
was the opinion of the Meeting, that the Burgesses and Council 
were the most suitable to provide the means and appoint the com- 
mittee to inquire into the wants of their families. The Borough 
officers agreed to meet at the house of John Bessonett, at 6 o'clock 
in the evening, to consider on the above business." — " The Borough 
officers met agreeably to agreement. — Whereas it appears necessary 
that a certain sum of money should he appropriated for the use of 
the drafted Militiamen's families. Resolved, That one hundred dol- 
lars be appropriated for said use." 

• This will be a beautiful and substantial structure, and one now 
much required ; it will be an ornament to the Borough, and a credit 
to the Directors. The present Board (1853,) consists of J. D. Men- 
denhall, Pres't ; E. D. Buckman, Sec. ; L. M. Wharton, D. P. Forst, 
Thos. Callanan, F. W. Swan. 

3* 



22 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 

was determined to hang him if they could get him ; which in- 
telligence was quickly conveyed to the negro, who started for 
home as fast as he could go. At the same time some of the 
crowd mounted their horses for the purpose of seizing the person 
of Gilbert; and as they neared the foot of Attleborough hill they 
discovered the messenger near the top of it, and fired at him, 
with no other effect, however, than to set him off the faster. 
As he neared Gilbert's house, he sees him watching for his re- 
turn with the news; and calls to him to clear himself without 
d'elay. The negro dashed on, and secreted himself in the well- 
known woodland of " Langhorne's Hill." Gilbert left the house 
by the back way, and without speaking to any one, crossed the 
fields, and was secreted in an old chest in the garret of a neigh- 
boring house. The horsemen searched Gilbert's house and build- 
ings, but without avail. He kept secreted in the woods around 
for several weeks, frequently calling on such of his old friends 
as he could depend on ; but finding his life still in danger, he 
left, and went to Nova Scotia, where he received some land and 
an annual pension. Some few years after, he was assassinated 
on his way home, after receiving his pay. His landed property 
is said to still remain in his own name, subject to the claim of 
the proper heirs. 

" The American army, late in the year 1776, retreated across New 
Jersey into this county. Gen. Washington defended all the passes 
of the river from Coryell's ferry to Bristol. His head quarters were 
at Newtown while he was urging upon Congress the necessity of 
reinforcing the army." — " The body of troops stationed at Bristol, 
under the command of Gen. Cadwalader," were summoned by Gen, 
Washington to form one of the three divisions, " to surprise the 
enemy's post at Trenton." — See Pa. Hist. Col., p. 158. 

" The Buckley-house," Radcliffe street, Bristol, " was erected at a 
very early date, [1735]. Lafayette spent some time there while re- 
covering from his wound received at the battle of Brandywine." — 
Ibid, p. 166. This old edifice, long and familiarly known as the 
" Willis house," is still standing; in the garden of which, on the 
opposite side of the street stand the two beautiful Gothic residences 
of Daniel P. Forst and Samuel Swain, Jr. The old " Buckley" was 
used as a bakehouse for the American soldiery, while quartered 
here. Although in a dilapidated condition, the main edifice is still 
tenanted. 



THE BOROUGH. 



Our Later Times. 

THE " BOROUGH." — TIME's DOINGS. 

" Inexorably calm, with silent pace, 
Here time hath passed." 

We may now pass to that eventful period which severed the 
connexion of the colonies with the parent government; when 
this corporation, in common with all others deriving their powers 
from Great Britain was freed from monarchial rule. At this 
time the citizens of the Borough petitioned the State Legislature 
for a restoration of the corporate powers enjoyed under its an- 
cient constitution, which was granted and passed on the 16th of 
September, 1785* This charter continued in force so far as it 
could be rendered practicable with the changes and spirit of our 
republican institutions, up to the year 1851 ! But this State Act 
re-establishing the powers under the English charter, in later 
years, had become so inefficient and dubious of construction, as 
to lead to repeated difficulties and perplexities ; so that important 
measures of general interest and convenience, involving the 
prosperity of the corporation, had from time to time to be sub- 
mitted to legal counsel, before any decided action could be taken 

* This was entitled " An Act to re-establish the ancient Corpora- 
tion of the Borough of Bristol. — Whereas the Corporation of the 
Borough of Bristol in the County of Bucks, as it derived its charter, 
privileges and immunities from the crown of Great Britain, was on 
the declaration of the independence of this State thereby immedi- 
ately dissolved ; and whereas it appears necessary to a majority of 
the freemen of the said Borough that its ancient constitution be 
restored under the authority of the Legislature of Pennsylvania ; 
and that the officers of the said Borough be established by law, and 
have perpetual succession ; so that the inhabitants of the said Bo- 
rough may have the power of regulating their markets, fairs, wharves, 
streets, and other public concerns, in like manner as they had under 
their late charter; — Be it," &c. — Sec. 1, provides for the special ap- 
pointment of officers for the time being, &c. — 2, the restoration of 
the corporate powers; franchise, &c. 



24 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 

by the Borough authorities. Yet, strange to say, under that 
charter, the corporate powers of the Borough of Bristol continued 
to be administered for an additional period of sixty-five years. 

From the continued growth in population of the Borough, 
incident mainly to the natural and artificial advantages, and the 
productiveness of the soil, of the surrounding country, and to the 
river facilities, Bristol was not only a town of early promise of 
importance, but also became the permanent residence of most 
of its first settlers, the descendants of many of which families 
are still among and around us. It was also once a more noted 
place of residence of families of wealth and gaity than at pre- 
sent; while several highly distinguished persons have, from 
time to time, been its permanent residents. 

The old original Borough boundaries, (including the changes 
which may have been made about the time of Cutler's draft,) 
remained unaltered up to 1801, when it was enlarged by Act of 
Assembly to its present bounds.* This is said to have been 
done under a survey made by Isaac Hicks. The petition for an 
extension was drawn by Richard Lloyd, and submitted to and 
approved by the Burgesses and Council, at their meeting held 
on the 6th of January of the above year, and was signed by most 
of the towns-people. The streets as originally laid out by Pem- 
berton and now extended by Hicks, were Mill and RadclifTe, 
(lying on the Turnpike,) Cedar, Wood and Pond ; Market, Mul- 
berry and Walnut. 

The necessity of securing a charter of incorporation better 
adapted to the circumstances of the Borough had long been ap- 

• The Act was passed Feb. 11th, 1801 ; the first section of which 
sets forth the boundaries of the Borough, which is thought not ne- 
cessary to be here presented. The second and last section gives to 
the Borough officers authority "to lay out, open and regulate streets 
and alleys for the accommodation of the inhabitants; and generally 
to have and exercise within the said Borough, as extended by this 
Act, all the powers vested in them by the original Act of Incorpo- 
ration."— Bor. Ord, Book, p. 17. And, March 29th, 1804, was pass- 
ed "An Act altering and extending the powers of the corporation 
of the Borough of Bristol," the first section of which provides the 
mode for electing the two Burgesses, (now obsolete,) while all the 
powers granted by the remaining sections are fully embraced in the 
present Act of Incorporation. 



time's doings. SJ5 

parent to its citizens ; and still no decisive steps were taken in 
the matter up to June, 1849. At that time, the Bristol Gazette, 
(the publication of which had just been commenced,) was the 
first successfully to move the citizens to frame and apply for 
a more efficient charter. After publishing", in its first numbers, 
the original English Charter, and the subsequent State acts, 
and commenting upon them, said, " The powers reposed in our 
borough officers should be ample, explicit, and determined ; those 
conferred by the present charter are vague, uncertain, and un- 
defined. In some instances their want of authority has been 
severely felt and universally deprecated. In others it is exceed- 
ingly questionable ; while oftentimes it is absolute and unbound- 
ed. .. . " 

The citizens now began to consider the matter earnestly. A 
general town-meeting was called and held on the 26th of July, 
1850, and a committee appointed to draft the provisions of a new 
charter, to be submitted to the people and to the Legislature. — 
Samuel Allen, Esq., Dr. Benjamin Malone, (then State Senator,) 
Andrew W. Gilkeson, Esq., Anthony Swain, Esq., William H. 
Swift, Isaac Van Horn, Pugh Dungan, William M. Downing, 
Gilbert Tomlinson, and William Bache, composed that commit- 
tee; who, after holding a number of meetings, prepared and 
agreed upon a draft which was satisfactory to the people; — 
which draft, with a few slight amendments, passed the Legisla- 
ture, and was approved the 1.5th of February, 1851. 

The Burgess and Council, in meeting on the 25th of Februa- 
ry, 1853, took into consideration the propriety of asking such 
amendments in the Borough charter as shall secure to the corpo- 
ration the power and control in opening and extending streets, 
and the jurisdiction of the port in building and extending 
wharves and landings. It was determined that these privileges 
should be asked ; and an Act was passed at the session of 1853, 
giving Burgess and Council the necessary powers. 

The present two-story brick Town House and Market, in 
Market street, was erected in 1831, at a cost of $1750. When 
the building was completed, a cupola was raised and a clock 
placed therein at a cost of S674 40. This expense was partly 
defrayed with a bequest left for that purpose by Samuel Scotton, 



26 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 

who was Chief Burgess in 1802, and at other periods filled that 
post and other offices of the corporation. The bequest was made 
in 1833 ; and the remainder of the entire cost of the improve* 
ment was supplied out of a special corporation loan.* Since 
which, the meetings of Council and the elections have been 
there held to the present time.* 

The upper room, or Council Chamber, is entered by a stair- 
way leading from the first floor. The lower room forms a tho- 
roughfare into the Market House from the general entrance on 

• Mr. Henry Tomlinson, (before mentioned, and to whose recollec- 
tions we are indebted in making more clear to our mind the par- 
ticulars of several matters noticed,) in speaking' of the fairs and 
markets says, that at the old market-house in Mill street opposite 
to Cedar, besides the whipping post mentioned in a former note, 
there was also " a wooden frame, built square; and in its centre 
were places made to confine the legs of persons for crimes committed 
against the laws of the Province." He adds, in his memorandum, 
" Fairs were allowed to be held yearly; and the space prepared for 
them extended from the market- house to the old court-house in 
Cedar street. After a time, it occurring that under the privileges 
granted by the charter, the market-house could be presented as a 
nuisance in occupying the highway, at the demand of citizens it 
was so declared, and removed ; wlien the second one, at the inter- 
section of Cedar and Market streets was built; which also was af- 
terwards declared a nuisance, and removed." 

April 4, 1796, an Act of Assembly was passed " to annul and re- 
peal so much of any charter or law of the State as empowers the 
inhabitants of the Borough of Bristol in the County of Bucks to 
hold and keep fairs within the same." 

In 1817, another movement was made for the erection of a mar- 
ket-house ; a committee of Council was appointed, consisting of 
Louis Bache, John Phillips, and Benjamin Swain, to select a proper 
site, &.C. In March, 1818, John Reed was added to the committee, 
— the same, by a resolution of the Board being now a " building 
committee." The site chosen was a lot situate on the west side of 
Market street at the corner of Wood, and opposite Friends' Meet- 
ing-house. It was finished in September, 1819, and cost (Bor. Rec.) 
$285 03. It was removed in 1832, to its present location, (adjoin- 
ing the Town Hall,) most of the material of which being again used 
for the purpose. 

In November, 1830, it was " unanimously agreed by the Board 
to build a Town House," &.c. — "Joseph M. Downing, Eleazer Fen- 
ton, and Robert C. Beatty are appointed a committee to procure 
materials, and superintend, &c. ; and in March, 1831, the same 
being completed, the committee report, that they have received and 
paid over to the Treasurer the legacy of Samuel Scotton. 



time's doings. 27 

KadclifFe street. It has a basement story, which is used as a 
lock-up for the disorderly and for the shelter of poor foot-travel- 
ers and vagrants. 

At present there is in the Borough one private circulating' 
library, established by Mrs. Lydia Lukens ; and although not 
an extensive one, it has kept pace with the demand of its patro- 
nizers. Fifty-three years ago the Aurora newspaper was tem- 
porarily removed from Philadelphia, and published at Bristol, 
during the prevalence of the yellow fever. In 1849, the Bristol 
Gazette was established, it being the first periodical published 
in Bristol with a view to permanency. But such were the dis- 
couragements in the undertaking, that after struggling for a 
lime, it expired on the issue of its fifty-second number. Had a 
local press been established and sustained at Bristol in earlier 
times, we feel persuaded that this place would long since have 
grown one of far greater importance than it is now ; and many 
have regretted that our people could not forsee or would not 
avail themselves of the advantages offered them in 1849. 

Of vthe public institutions and organized societies now in the 
Borough, there are, seven religious denominations who have 
houses of worship; a commodious Public School; a Masonic 
Lodge ; and the Washington Hall ; — in which latter building 
now meet, the Hopkins' Lodge and Hope Encampment, Sons, 
Daughters and Cadets of Temperance associations, American 
Mechanics and Daughters of America : all in a thriving condi- 
tion. — Also, an association of Philozathians, and the Bristol and 
the Union Building Associations. 

One of the earliest associations in the Borough, now in exist- 
ence, is the old Beneficial Society, now holding its meetings in 
the Town Hall. Its affairs have been prosperously conducted; 
and it has not only fully accomplished the beneficial purposes of 
its institution, but it has gained, from time to time, overplus 
monies, which have been loaned on interest. 

The religious houses of worship are : The old Friends' Meet- 
ing, corner of Market and Wood streets; the old Episcopal 
Church, on Walnut street, north of Cedar ; the Methodist in 
Wood street, above Mulberry; Orthodox Friends, corner of 
Wood and Walnut; Roman Chapel, RadclifTe street, near the 



28 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 

bridg-e; Presbyterian Church, Radcliffe street, east of Market; 
and Baptist, corner of Walnut and Cedar. 

One hundred years ago (Old Town Rec.) the Borough con- 
tained only 72 male taxables, 24 of whom were single men.— 
In 1806, (Scott's Geog.,) Bristol contained about 90 houses.— 
" By the census of 1800, the population was 511 ; in 1810, 628 ; 
in 1820, 908." (Pa. Hist. Col.) By the census of 1840, it will 
be seen, that the enumeration of its inhabitants at that time was 
1438; — and in 18.50 the Borough was found to contain a popula- 
tion of 2570: of which there were males 1287; females 12S3; 
(colored persons 89.) This shows the prosperous increase in 
ten years of 11.'32 souls, or about 80 per cent ! In 1850-1, there 
were about 450 dwellings in the Borough, (besides a number 
of shops of various kinds;) and in the Spring of 16.52, they 
numbered 500. At the present time, (Summer of 1853,) the 
Borough contains about 600 buildings, as dwellings, stores, and 
manufactories of various kinds ; and we will venture to say, on 
the judgment of others as well as our own, that the population 
of the Borough novv numbers about 3,000. Previous to the year 
1848, and before the oldest Building Association was organized, 
the spirit of building improvement had long lain dormant. And, 
we ask, have not these last noted facts mainly resulted from that 
spirit of progress in building up the waste places around us, 
to which the energies of many of our enterprising men have 
latterly been directed ? And yet how often do we hear the pre- 
monition, even by men of discernment, that this same spirit is 
hazardous of pecuniary success and prosperity. But let the 
facts and the figures show for themselves. 

The population of Bristol has always largely exceeded that of 
any other tow^n in this highly favored county ; has all along re- 
gularly continued to be, and now is, almost double that of the 
county town ; whilst it is environed by a more densely populated 
country, enterprising villages, and grain and lumber mill seats, 
than any other borough in the county. 

Commanding the immediate advantages of the river naviga-. 
tion, the railroad, turnpike and canal, Bristol is therein possessed 
of local facilities for the advancement of industrial pursuits, 
which, although adding much to its prosperity, nevertheless^-for 



I-IME^S DOINGS. 29 

a long period of years, but little enterprise had been aroused 
into action. Latterly, however, its advantages as a manufac- 
turing post seem to be awakening, while the broad field is still 
open and at command of capitalists, for erecting works for all 
the heavier manufactures; and, we opine, the day is not far dis- 
tant, when Bristol must become one of the greatest and most valu- 
able manufacturing posts bordering upon the river Delaware. — 
The Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal terminating 
at this port, it is made the general depot for transhipment of 
anthracite coal from the Lehigh region: affording labor to a 
large number of operatives and vesselmen, who niust be fed, 
clothed, and furnished with all necessary implements of labor. — 
Hence, again, this gives an active impulse to dealers in the 
common necessaries of life, and of the trades more particularly 
to smith-work, rope, harness, and shoe making; — consequently, 
at present, the larger amount of the capital of the place is in- 
vested in the pursuits mentioned. 

At present the greater amount of business in general store- 
keeping is carried on in Mill street: which now has twelve 
retail stores for the sale of groceries, provisions, clothing, dry- 
goods, and housekeeping articles generally. Besides these, there 
are now on the same street two fancy dry-goods and trimming 
stores, two leather and shoe-findings stores, three tin and sheet- 
iron manufactories, three millinery and two tailoring establish- 
ments, three harness manufactories, three boot and shoe makers, 
a grain and a saw mill, two hat manufacturers, one smith-shop, 
two drug and medicine stores, two tobacconists, one soap and 
candle manufactory, one cabinet-ware maker, a printing office, 
a watchmaker and jeweler, two bakers, and one public house. 

On Radcliffe street we have three or four stands for general 
storekeeping, one millinery and one ladies shoe store, a confec- 
tionery, two public houses, a few shop-keepers, and a boat-yard. 

Bath street is at present chiefly occupied with private resi- 
dences. The property on the upper side, however, has been 
rendered very valuable for landings on the canal and on a small 
inlet of sufficient capacity to admit canal-boats. Two extensive 
lumber and coal yards are upon this inlet, which yards open on 
Bath street. 

4 



30 HISTORY OF BRIStOL. 

On Cedar street, one small grocery store, one blacksmiths' 
shop, one wheelwrights' shop, and a livery stable. 

On Wood street are two small grocery shops, an iron foundry, 
one ladies' shoe-shop, one blacksmith and one paint shop. 

On Market street, one blacksmith shop, one paint shop, one 
cooper shop, one ladies' shoe shop, and two livery stables. 

At Mulberry and Pond streets is erected Hibbs, Fry & Com- 
pany's machine-shops for the manufacture of clover hullers and 
cleaners, invented and patented by Jonathan Hibbs, one of the 
partners. Also on Mulberry street is carried on the business of 
grain cradle making. 

On Walnut street, several boot and shoe manufactories. 

On Buckley street has recently been erected Strong & Mor- 
gan's malleable iron and tilt-hammer works, now going into ac- 
tive operation. The business of rope making is also carried on 
in this street. 

In Otter street have recently been erected one wheelwright 
shop and a pump-makers' shop. Otter street is becoming one 
of the most favorable localities for the erection of shops for car- 
rying on the mechanic arts, particularly such as are more gene- 
rally required by our neighboring farmers. A small grocery 
store has recently been opened on this street, required by the 
rapid advancement in building up the lots opened for improve- 
ment in that neighborhood in 1851. 

On Linden street, (in the plot just noticed,) is erected an ex- 
tensive and complete coach, wheelwright, blacksmith, painting 
and coach-trimming establishment. 

A large amount of the river front, and sites on the canal, are 
occupied by coal operators, and some portions for boat-building. 

Along the line of canal within the limits of the town are 
several extensive stables, smith shops, a cooj)ers' shop, and stores 
adapted to the wants of watermen. 

We do not claim in the above recapitulation to have noticed 
all the industrial pursuits of the town ; while enough has been 
presented to give a general idea of the Borough as to its busi- 
ness character in 1853. 



TIMERS DOINGS. Si 



NOTABILIA. 

We here present, in a form convenient for reference, the 
several periods at which the streets of the Borough were opeiv 
ed, or released to public use ; also, such as have been opened to 
Qse, but not yet formally released to the corporation. 

The several new plots mentioned in the names of individuals, 
by whom they were laid out, have generally been taken up by 
mechanics and other laborers, who are rapidly improving them, 
thereby not only extending the area of the built portions of the 
town, but, in consideration of the fact that our dwelling-houses 
have latterly been in demand, these improved neighborhoods are 
now adding increased value to both the improved and unimproved 
property of the Borough everywhere, but in a greater ratio in 
their respective localities, and in a degree commensurate with 
the progress which each is making. 



STREETS: 

MilL Original h%hway. 

Wharf extended in 1830; further extension, 1850; 
New slip built, and wharf planked, 1853. 
New foot-bridge over Canal, 1853. 
Radcliffe. Old original highway. 
Cedar. Original to Walnut stteeL 
Wharf built in 1830. 

Street continued from Walnut to Franklin, 1849; from 
Penn to Warren's land, 1851. 
Wood. Original to Walnut 

In 1766, John Hutchinson vacates to the public use, 
ground for its further extension easterly from Walnut. 
Wharf at foot of Wood st. built in 1815. 
Street continued to Penn st., 1851 ; and from Penn to 
Washington, 1851. 
Cherry Alley, laid out in 1849. 
Pond. Original to Walnut. 
Wharf built in 1830. 
■ The easterly extension from Walnut is an old lane. 



32 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 

STREETS: 

INTERSECTIONS, viz : 

Market. Original. 
Wharf, use of, leased to Phil. & Tr. R. R. Co. for 25 years 
at $150 per an., April 30, 1844. 

Mulberry. Original to Pond. 

Walnut. Original to Wood. 
Extended to Pond in 1811. 
Wharf built, ]837. 
laing's and dorrance and Wright's plots, 

Franklirij laid out in 1836. 

Penn, laid out in 1836. 
(Not released, viz:) 

Dorrance, laid out in 1851. 

Washington, laid out in 1851. 

One other, (not named,) east of, and parallel with Wash- 
ington street, 1852. 

Bath. (N.-westerly from the junction of Mill and Otter.) 
Opened in 1809, by private individuals; and declared 
by Council to be an " infringement of the rights of 
the corporation." 
Widened and regulated in 1821. 

quervelle's plot. ') 

Buckley, running easterly from Bath street. Laid out in > 

1847. (With streets intersecting, not released.) ) 

Otter. Original high^fay. 

w. and e. laing and co.*s plot. — (not released.) — 
Formerly Heiskell's, viz : 
Streets diverging northerly from Otter street : — 

Linden, Locust, and Maple, 1851 ; and intersected by- 
Pearl and Green, parallel with Otter, 1851. 



SEAL [Borough]. On the margin the words " Borough of Bris- 
tol, Pa. — A Steamboat engraved in the centre. 

This devise was proposed and adopted in Council, the 15th of 
August, 1826. 



time's doings. 



33 



FISCAL AFFAIRS: 

For a long period of years the Borough finances had been 
fully supplied out of the receipts of the corporation for wharfage, 
market rents, hay-scales, &c. ; so that little or no assessment 
of taxes for Borough purposes were required up to the close of 
the 17th century. 

We here present the amount of taxes required to be levied, 
annually, during the past half-century : 



TAXES authorized to be Levied. 



Feb. 1803, $100 00 
Julv, 1803, 235 43 
Sept. 1804, 80 00 
1805, 000. 
Sept. 1806, 150 00 
1807, 000. 
May, 1808, 
Sept. 1808, 
1809-'10, 000. 
Sept. 1811, 450 00 
Nov. 1812, 
1813, 000. 
Feb. 1814, 
1815, 000. 
Oct. 1816, 
Oct. 1817, 
Sept. 1818, 
1819, 000. 



80 00 
132 00 



200 00 

250 00 

321 00 
550 00 
350 00 



Sept. 1820, 
Sept. 1821, 
Sept. 1822, 
Sept. 1823, 
Sept. 1824, 
Dec. 1825, 
Sept. 1826, 
1827, 000. 
April, 1828, 
Sept. 1828, 
Sept. 1829, 
Sept. 1830, 
Sept. 1831, 
Sept. 1832, 
Sept. 1833, 
Sept. 1834, 
Sept. 1835, 
Sept. 1836, 



250 00 
200 00 
200 00 
300 00 
300 00 
300 00 
400 00 

450 00 
400 00 
400 00 
200 00 
400 00 
500 00 
600 00 
450 00 
450 00 
600 00 



Sept. 1837, 
Sept. 1838, 
Sept. 1839, 
Sept. 1840, 
Sept. 1841, 
1842, 000. 
Sept. 1843, 
Sept. 1844, 
Sept. 1845, 
Sept. 1846, 
Sept. 1847, 
Sept. 1848, 
Sept. 1849, 
Sept. 1850, 
May, 1851, 
April, 1852, 
April, 1853, 



1000 00 
2000 00 
1200 00 
1000 00 
1260 00 

500 00 

600 00 

600 00 

600 00 

500 00 

600 00 

650 00 

1000 00 

1000 00 

1400 00 

1400 00 



LOANS, &c., during the past 20 years: — 
1831, Ap. to Ap. 1840,— (to build Town House, and for 

other improvements,) $2,000 00 

1831, Aug. to Oct. 1838,— (to repair breach of mill-dam 

into Bath street,) 1,000 00 

1837, May.— Issue of scrip authorized, 5,000 00 

[83,000 of which to be applied to building the 
Public School-house.] July, additional sum 
authorized, of 3,400 00 

1638, Ap. 16, — (to pay balance due on school-house, 

81936 87, and for other objects,) not to exceed 6,000 00 

1838, Ap. — (to take out of circulation a like amount in 

less sums than 850,) 6,000 00 



-1837-8. 



Whole amount of scrip in circulation, 
4* 



7,689 00 



34 HISTORY or BRISTOL. 

1839, Sept. — Loan to redeem certificates and pay other 

debts, 7,000 00 

1839, Ap.— (Temporary,) 8,000 00 

1842, Jan. do. 4,000 00 

" March, do. 2,000 00 

1842-'51. Whole amount of indebtedness on loans, 7,000 00 

1351, Ap.— (To rebuild and extend Mill street wharf,) 1,500 00 

1852, March.— Indebtedness on loans, 8,500 00 

1852, Mar.— Liabilities, (deducting $647 61 in dues) 7,852 89 

1853, March.— Indebtedness on loans, 8,500 00 

" Total indebtedness, 8,597 18 



1853, March.— Liabilities (deducting $ 1184 91 in re- 
sources and monies in hand, 7,412 27 
1853, Ap.— (Loan to redeem 2 loans of $1000 each,) 2,000 00 

In 1846 Council commenced a sinking fund for the gradual 
extinguishment of the debts of the corporation, by setting aside 
and loaning on interest, annually the sum of $100. Since 
1851, no appropriations have been made to this fund. 



RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES for 


Borough purposes from 


1842 <o 1853: 






FOR THE TERM ENDING — 


RECEIPTS. 


PAYMENTS. 


Sept. 1342, 


$2,290 27 


$2,273 07 


" 1843, 


797 67 


806 25 


" 1844, 


770 42 


750 32 


" 1845, 


694 99 


677 50 


" 1846, 


919 02 


946 23 


" 1847, 


3,034 24 


2,955 21 


« 1848, 


1,202 58 


1,199 08 


" 1849, 


1,934 04 


1,927 26 


" 1850, 


2,121 09 


2,119 34 


March, 1851,* 


407 59 


427 67 


" 1852, 


3,652 98 


4,156 73 


" 1853, 


1,914 88 


1,850 09 



* Under the present charter the Borough year now closes in the 
month of March, and not in September, as heretofore. 



TIMERS DOINGS. 



BOROUGH OFFICERS. 



Among the early Fathers of this ancient corporation, it will 
be seen and remembered, stand the names of some of the best 
and most prominent men of their times ; and it affords no little 
pride of feelino^ as a citizen of Bristol, and gratification as a 
compiler of its history, to call back their names from the silent 
past. The prefatory stanzas to their memory has been kindly 
and expressly contributed by Samuel Swain, Jr., at the request 
of the compiler. 

The fact has been before adverted to, that much of the early 
recorded transactions of the corporation have been lost or de- 
stroyed ; in consequence of which, our chain of record under this 
department is frequently severed, the connecting links of which 
can never be supplied. — Our notitia dates with the ancient 
charter officers, and from all the present existing records. 



THE VILLAGE FATHERS. 

The passed away ! Tears will unbidden start 
And thoughts grow tender as we trace the names 
Of those who sleep — our fathers, and their sires I 

Back to the days of pioneering toil 
Stretches the kindred tie and clasps a race — 
A sterner and a hardier race — than we. 
Who build anew their homes. They lived perchance 
In doom that seemed unequal — save in hope 
And sorrow's portioned shade ; but now the same 
Kind mother folds them to her faithful breast ; — 
The same green Summer blossoms o'er their dust 
And murmurs to their rest. Their transient part 
In life was humbly played : how well, but One, 
Their loving Father, knows. Sweet be their sleep, 
Lulled by the ripple of the streams they loved, 
And kindred childhood's song I 



36 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 

The dark wave breaking on the emerald shore 
Flashes a glittering spray : So every Age 
That dies on being's verge is crested well 
With memories that are sweet to store away. • 

Our deepest lessons may be truly learned 
From off the epitaphs of what hath been. 
Read in the clearer sunshine of to-day. 
Year chases year from earth; and each should drop 
Its honied morsel into Wisdom's urn, 
Which, like the Hebrew's manna, must be used 
As it is gathered. Life has not an hour 
To waste in doubting, while the solemn Past 
Is prophet to the Future. Onward, then, 
O let us march, strong in the focal light 
Experience blends with Hope ; and God will help 
The soul that toils and loves I 



1720, Nov. 14. — Charter Officers : Joseph Bond and John Hali, 
Burg-esses; Thos. CllfFord, High Constable; (to continue 
in office to 8th of September, 1721.) 

1730, Sept. 8.— John Hall, c. b.; Nath'n. Watson, 2d b.; John 

Priestley, h. c; John Ab'ra De Normandie, Ennion Wil- 
liams, Tiios. Marriott, Wm. Hope, James Higgs, John 
Elfreth, Common Council. 

1731, Sept. 8. — John Ab'm De Normandie, c b; Nath*n Watson, 

2d B ; John Priestley, h c ; Thos. Marriott, James Hig-g-s, 
Ennion Williams, Benj. Wright, John Elfreth, William 
Hope, c c. 

1732, Sept. 8. — John Hall, c b; Ennion Williams, 2d b; John 

Ab'm De Normandie, Thos. Marriott, Benj. Wright, Jas. 
Higgs, William Hope, John Elfreth, c c. 

1742, Sept. 8. — John Ab'm De Normandie, c b ; John Frohoe, 2d 

B ; John Hutchinson, h c ; Jos. Jackson, William Buck- 
ley, Thomas Marriott, Ennion Williams, Nicholas Allen, 
Mathias Keen, c c. 

1743, Sept. 8. — John Ab'm De Normandie, c b ; John Frohoe, 2d 

b; John Hutchinson, n c; Enn. Williams, Thomas Mar- 
riott, Joseph Jackson, John Anth. De Normandie, William 
Buckley, c c. 

1744, Sept. 8.Same. 



time's doings. 37 

1745, Sept. 8.— John Hall, c. b; William Buckley, 2(1 b; John 

Ab'm De Normandie, Enn. Williams, Thomas Marriott, 
Joseph Jackson, Wm. Atkinson, John Frohoe, c c. 

1746, Sept. 8. — Same Burg. — John Ab'm De Normandie, Enn. 

Williams, John Frohoe, Wm. Atkinson, John Antho. De 
Normandie, Wm. De Normandie, c c ; J. Priestley, h c. 

1747, Sept. 8.— William Buckley, c b; Matthias Keen, 2d b; 

John Priestley, h c ; John Ab'm De Normandie, John 
Hall, Alex'r Graydon, Enn. Williams, Thomas Marriott, 
Joseph Jackson, c c. 

Feb. 29. — John Anthony De Normandie, John Frohoe, 

Samuel Harker, elected to fill vacancies, by deaths, &:c. 

1748, Sept. 8.— William Buckley, c b; John De Normandie, 2d 

b; John Priestley, hc; (Councilmen increased.) John 
Ab'm De Normandie, Enn. Williams, Alexan'r Graydon, 
John Hall, John Frohoe, Samuel Harker, Nicholas Allen, 
John Hutchinson, Joseph Church, c c. 

1749, Sept. 8. — Same, with exception of Joseph Atkinson and 

William Large in lieu of John Hall and John Frohoe. 

1750, Sept. 8.— William Buckley, cb; William Large, 2d b; 

Enn. Williams, John Ab'm De Normandie, Alex'r Gray- 
don, Joseph Atkinson, Jos. Church, Thos. Marriott, c c. 

1751, Sept. 9. — William Buckley, c b; Joseph Church, 2d b; 

John Priestley, h c; John Ab'm De Normandie, Alex'r 
Graydon, Joseph Atkinson, Wm. Large, Enn. Williams, 
John Allen, Barnard Duffield, Thomas AJarriott, Anthony 
Murphey, c o. 
1752, — [Sept. 19. " by reason of the late alteration of style by 
Act of Parliament."] — William Buckley, c b; Thomas 
Marriott, 2d b; John Priestley, hc; Ennion Williams, 
Alexander Graydon, John A. De Normandie, Jos. Church. 
William Large, John Allen, Joseph Atkinson, Thomas 
Stapler, Ebenezer Robinson, c c. 

1753, Sept. S.— Same. 

1754, Sept. 8. — Same, with the exception of Matthew Keen in 

lieu of Ebenezer Robinson. 

1755, Sept. 8. — John De Normandie, c b; Joseph Atkinson, 2d 

b; John Priestley, h c; John Ab'm De Normandie, Enn. 
Williams, Alex'r Graydon, Wm. Buckley, Jos. Church, 
Wm. Large, John Allen, Thos. Marriott, Mat. Keen, c c. 

1756, Sept. 8, — Same, with the exception of Thomas Stapler 

and John Hutchinson in place of Alexander Graydon and 
Joseph Church. 



38 niSTORY OF BRISTOL. 

1757, Sept. 8. — William Buckley, c b; Joseph Atkinson, 2(1 e; 

John Priestley, ii c; Ennion Williams, John Ab'm De 
Normandie, Alexander Graydon, William Large, John 
Allen, Thomas Marriott, Samuel Woolston, John Hutch- 
inson, Dari'l De Normandie, c c. 

1758, Sept. 8. — John De Normandie, c b; William Large, 2d b; 

John Priestley, ii c ; Ennion Williams, Alex'r Graydon, 
William Buckley, John Hutchinson, John Allen, Daniel 
De Normandie, Thomas Marriott, Joseph Atkinson, Bur- 
net Richards, c c. 

1759, Sept. 8. — Ennion Williams, c b; William Large, 2d b; 

Abraham Breisford, hc; Alexander Graydon, Thomaa 
Marriott, John Hutchinson, Jos. Atkinson, Butnet Rich- 
ards, John Priestley, John Allen, John De Normandie, 
David Pinkerton, c c. 

1760, Sept. 8. — Hugh Hartshorne, c b; Burnet Richards, 2d b; 

John Priestley, hc; Ennion Williams, Alex'r Graydon, 
Thomas Marriott, John Hutchinson, Joseph Church, Jos. 
Atkinson, John Allen, John Green, J. De Normandie, c c. 

1761, Sept. 8. — John Hall, c b; John Green, 2d b; Samuel 

VVool^on, hc; Enn. Williams, Hugh Hartshorne, John 
De Normandie, John Allen, William Large, Joseph At- 
kinson, Joseph Church, c c. 

1762, Sept. 8.— Hugh Hartshorne, c b; John Priestley, 2d b: 

Joseph Brown, h c ; Ennion Williams, John De Norman- 
die, John Hall, William Mcllvaine, Jos. Atkinson, Wm. 
Large, Joseph Ciiurch, c c. 

1763, Sept. 8. — Hugh Hartshorne, c b; David Pinkerton, 2d b; 

Joseph Brown, h. c; Ennion Williams, John De Nor- 
mandie, Joseph Atkinson, Joseph Church, Wm. Large, 
John Allen, John Priestley, c c. 

1764, Sept. 8. — John Priestley, c b ; Joseph Hall, 2d b ; Joseph 

Brown, h c; Ennion Williams, Hugh Hartshorne, Joseph 
Church, Joseph Atkinson, Jonathan Haight, Wm. Mcll- 
vaine, John Green, c c. 

1765, Sept. 8. — Phineas Buckley, c b; John Hutchinson, 2d b; 

Same Council except Joseph Hail in place of Wm. Mc- 
llvaine. 

1766, Sept. 8. — Phineas Buckley, o b ; John Bessonett, 2d b; 

Ennion Williams, Hugh Hartshorne, John De Normandie, 
Joseph Atkinson, Jonathan Haight, John Green, John 
Priestley, c c. 



S9 

1768, Sept. 8. — Phineas Buckley, cb; John Bessonett, 2d b; 
Joseph Brown, u c; Ennion Williams, John De Norman- 
die, Hugh Hartshorno, John Priestley, Joseph Atkinson, 
John Green, Charles Bessonett, c c;, 

1769i Sept- S.—Same. 

1770, Sept. S.—Satne, 

1771, Sept. 8.-^Same. 

1772, Sept, 8. — Same.) with the exception of Patterson Harts- 

horne in place of John Green. 
1673, Sept. 8. — Sa7ne as 1772, with the exception of John Hut- 
chinson in place of John Priestley. 

1774, Sept. 8. — Phineas Buckley, c b; John Bessonett, 2d b; 

Ennion Williams, John Ab'm De Normandie, Hugh Harts* 
borne, Joseph Atkinson, Charles Bessonett, John Hutch- 
inson, William Mcllvaine, c c. 

1775, Sept. 8. — Sa?ne, with the exception of Joseph Church in 

place of Charles Bessonett. High Cons. John Gosline. 

1784, Sept. 8. — Daniel Kennedy, c b; Jos. Clunn, 2d b; Rich- 

ard Gosline, hc; William Mcllvaine, Joseph Mcllvaine, 
Chas. Bessonett, Archibald McElroy, John Gosline, John 
Dowdney, John Priestley, c c. 

1785, Sept. 8. — Same, with the exception of William Rodman 

in place of John Priestley. 

1786, Sept. 8. — Amos Gregg, cb; Thomas Pearson, 2d b; Rich- 

ard Gosline, h. c ; Joseph Mcllvaine, Archibald McElroy, 
John Hutchinson, Timothy Merrick, Job Stackhouse, Jos. 
Vanschiver, Jonathan Pursell, c c. 

1787, Sept. 8. — Amos Gregg, c b ; Thos. Pearson, 2d b ; Rich- 

ard Gosline, h c ; John Hutchinson, Charles Bessonett, 
Robert Merrick, Job Stackhouse, Timothy Merrick, Jo- 
nathan Pursell, William Allen, c c. 

1788, Sept. 8. — John Hutchinson, c b: Thomas Pearson, 2d b; 

Timothy Merrick, h. c ; Samuel Kinsey, Amos Gregg, 
William Mcllvaine, Pearson Mitchell, Job Stackhouse, 
Jonathan Pursell, c c. 

1789, Sept. 8. — Same, with the exception of Archibald McElroy 

in place of Amos Gregg. 

1790, Sept. 8. — John Hutchinson, c b; Joseph Clunn, 2d b; John 

Murray, h c ; William Mcllvaine, Archibald McElroy, 
Pierson Mitchell, Thomas Pearson, Samuel Kinsey, Ti- 
mothy Merrick, Jonathan Pursell, c c. 

1791, Sept. 8. — John Hutchinson, c b ; Jonathan Pursell, 2d b ; 

John Murray, n c , Archibald McElroy, Joseph Clunn, 
Thomas Pearson, Pierson Mitchell, Sam'l Kinsey, Timo- 
thy Merrick, Joseph Minnick, c c. 



40 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 

1792, Sept. 8. — Joseph Minnick, c b ; John Gosline, 2d b; Archi- 

bald McElroy, Charles Bessonett, Thomas Pearson, Tim- 
othy Merrick, Samuel Kinsey, Jonathan Pursell, James 
Harrison, c c ; John Murray, h c. 

1793, Sept. 9. — Same, excepting: Joseph Clunn and William 

Crawford in place of A. McEIroy and C. Bessonett. 

1794, Sept. 8. — Same, excepting- Robert Merrick is 2d b; and 

George Merrick and Job Stackhouse, in place of Thomas 
Pearson and James Harrison. 

1795, Sept. 8.— Amos Gregg-, cb; Rich'd Trimble, 2d b; Sam'l 

Kinsey, John Gosline, John Hutchinson, Joseph Clunn, 
Charles Bessonett, Job Stackhouse, Benj. Walton, c c; 
Robert Merrick, jr. h c. 

1796, Sept. 8. — Joseph P. Minnick, c b; John Gosline, 2d b; 

Joseph Clunn, Amos Gregg, Job Stackhouse, Timothy 
Merrick, Jonathan Pursell, William Crawford, Lewis 
Howard, c c ; Francis Stackhouse, h c. 

1797, Sept. 8.— Charles Shoemaker, c b; John Gosline, 2d b; 

Joseph Clunn, John Hutchinson, Job Stackhouse, Amos 
Gregg, Samuel Kinsey, Jonathan Pursell, William Craw- 
ford, c c ; Francis Stackhouse, h c. 

1798, Sept. 8. — Amos Gregg, c b; Joseph P. Minnick, 2d b; 

VVilliam Crawford, John Hutchinson, jr., Richard Lloyd, 
James Harrison, James Serrill, Joseph Stackhouse, John 
Baldwin, c c ; Francis Stackhouse, h c. 

1799, Sept. 8.— John Gosline, c b; Archibald McElroy, 2d b; 

Joseph Clunn, John Hutchinson, Job Stackhouse, Jona- 
than Pursell, William Crawford, John Hutchinson, jr., 
Richard Lloyd, c c ; Francis Stackhouse, h c. 

1802, Sept. 8. — Samuel Scotton, c b : William Perkins, 2d b ; 

John Gosline, Amos Gregg, Joseph Clunn, Joseph Head- 
ley, Jonathan Pursell, James Harrisson, John Reed, c c ; 
William Crawford, h. c. 

1803, Sept. 8. — William Perkins, c b; Samuel Scotton, 2d b; 

Joseph Clunn, Jonathan Pursell, Joseph Headley, Benj, 
Swain, William McElhany, William Crawford, John 
Reed, c c ; John Johnson, h c. 

1804, Sept. 8.— Samuel Scotton, c b; William Perkins, 2d b; 

Joseph Headly, Benjamin Swain, Joseph Clunn, William 
Mcllhany, William Crawford, Amos Gregg, Job Stack- 
house, c c ; John Johnson, h c. 

1805, Sept. 7. — Amos Gregg, c e ; Henry Desborough, 2d b ; 
Joseph Clunn, John Read, William Crawford, Samuel 
Church, John Patterson, Noah Haines, Joseph Headley, 
c ; Enos Wright, h c. 



time's doings. 41 

1806, Sept. 8.— John Gosline, c b; Henry Disborough, 2cl b; 

Joseph Clunn, Willi;im Crawford, Samuel Scotton, Wm. 
Mcllhany, Benjamin Swain, Joseph Headly, John Patter- 
son, c c ; Enos Wright, u c. 

1807, Sept. 8— Amos Gregg, c e; John Reed, 2d b; Phineas 
Buckley, Job Stackhouse, Sam'l Lounsberry, John White, 
Samuel Church, Joseph Stackhouse, Stephen Hibbs, c c ; 
William Kinsey, h c. 

1808, Sept. 8.— Amos Gregg, cb; J. S. Mitchell, 2d b; Phineas 

Buckley, Joseph Headley, Job Stackhouse, Ebenezer 
Headly, Joseph Stackhouse, Jonathan Pursel, William 
Crawford, c c; William Kinsey, h c. 

1809, Sept. 8. — Same, with the exception of John Read in lieu 

of William Crawford. 

1810, Sept. 8.— Amos Gregg, c B ; J. S. Mitchell, 2d b; Phineas 

Buckley, Samuel Scotton, Jonathan Pursell, Jos. Stack- 
house, John Reed, Abraham Warner, Sam'l Church, c c ; 
William Kinsey, h c. 

1811, Sept. 9.— Amos Gregg, c b ; Henry Disborough, 2d b ; Jos. 

Clunn, Phineas Buckley, Jonathan Pursell, John Reed, 
Sam'l Church, Abraham Warner, Sam'l Lounsberry, c c ; 
Henry Tomlinson, h c. 

1812, Sept. 8. — Same, with the exception of Joseph Clunn in 

lieu of John Reed. — William Ennis, h c. 

1813, Sept. 8. — Archibald McElroy, c b ; John Bessonett, 2d b ; 

Joseph Clunn, John Patterson, John White, David Swain, 
William Crawford, Hugh Tomb, Joseph Vanzant, c c; 
Henry Tomlinson, h c. 

1815, Sept. 8.— Archibald McElroy, c b; John White, 2d b; 

Joseph Clunn, William Crawford, John Patterson, John 
Bessonett, Benjamin »Swain» Isaac Pitcher, c c ; Abraham 
Hagerman, h c. 

1816, Sept. 7.— Louis Bache, c b; Abraham Warner, 2d b; 
Benjamin Swain, Henry Disborough, Isaac Pitcher, Amos 
Gregg, John Bessonett, John Phillips, John Reed, c c ; 
John H. Merrick, h c. 

1817, Same, excepting Abraham Hagerman is h. c. 

1818, Sept. 8.— Archibald McElroy, c. b; William Crawford, 2d 

b; Amos Gregg, Benjamin Swain, John Bessonett, John 
Reed, Ebenezer Stackhouse, David Swain, c c ; Charles 
Snyder, h o. 

5 



42 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 

1819, Sept. a— Archibald McEIroy, c b; John White, 2d b; 
John G. Priestley, Isaac Pitcher, Samuel Levis, Henry 
Tomlinson, Ebenezer Stackhouse, John Bessonett, Lewis 
P. Kinsey, c c ; John Johnson, h c. 

1820, Sept. 8. — Archibald McElroy, ce; Henry Disborough, 2d 

b; Ebenezer Stackhouse, John Bessonett, John Kinsey, 
Isaac Pitcher, John White, Fincher Hellin^s, John John- 
son, c c. ; John T. Brown, h c. 

1621, Sept. 8. — .Tohn Phillips, ce; Benjamin Swain, 2d b; John 
Reed, William Crawford, Ebenezer Stackhouse, John 
Hutchinson, Samuel Allen, Joseph Warner, L. P. Kinsey, 
c c ; John T. Brown, h c. 

1822, Sept. 7. — John Phillips, c b; Henry Disborough, 2d b; 

Benjamin Swain, Joseph Warner, Samuel Allen, David 
Dorrance, Wm. F. Swift, Ebenezer Stackhouse, William 
Crawford, c c ; John T. Brown, h c. 

1823, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, c b ; Henry Disborough, 2d b ; 

William Crawford, Ebenezer Stackhouse, John Hutchin- 
son, Benjamin Swain, Samuel Allen, John Kinsey, Isaac 
Wilson, c c; John T. Brown, n c. 

1824, Sept. 8. — David Dorrance, o b ; Joseph M. Downing, 2d 

b; David Swain, James Johnson, Robert Cabeen, John 
Heiss, Wm. F. Swift, John White, c c ; J. T. Brown, n c. 

1825, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, cb; Joseph M. Downing, 2d b; 

Ebenezer Stackhouse, Benjamin Swain, Samuel Allen, 
Robert Cabeen, Wm. F. Swift, John Kinsey, John Besso- 
nett, c c; William Gale, h c. 

1826, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, c b ; Joseph M. Downing, 2d b ; 

Ebenezer Stackhouse, Benjamin Swain, Wm. F. Swift, 
Samuel Allen, Robert Cabeen, John Bessonett, John Kin- 
sey, c c ; John Johnson, h c. 

1827, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, c b ; Joseph M. Downing, 2d e ; 

Robert Cabeen, Samuel Allen, Benjamin Swain, Wm. F. 
Swift, John Bessonett, John Kinsey, W^illiam Laing, c c ; 
John Johnson, h c. 

1828, Sept. 8.— Joseph M. Downing, o b ; Benj. Swain, 2d b ; 

Robert Cabeen, John Bessonett, Sam'l Allen, Wm. Laing, 
John Hutchinson, John Boyd, L. P. Kinsey, c c ; John 
Johnson, n c. 

1829, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, c b; Benj. Swain, 2d b; Sam'l 

Allen, Robert Cabeen, Wm. Laing, John Hutchinson, 
John Boyd, L. P. Kinsey, John Bessonett, c c ; WiUiani 
Kinsey, e c. 



time's doings. 43 

IS30, Sept. 8 — Joseph Warner, c b ; Jos. M. Downing, 2 b ; John 
Bessonett, Samuel Allen, Robert Cabeen, Wm. Laing, 
Robert C. Beatty, Eleazer Fenton, L. P. Kinsey, c c ; 
William Kinsey, h c. 

1831, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, c b; James Johnson, 2(1 e; 
John Bessonett, Edward Swain, Robert Cabeen, William 
Hawk, Robert C. Beatty, Eleazer Fenton, L. P. Kinsey, 
c o ; Wm. Kinsey, h c. 

1S82, Sept. 8. — Wm. F. Swift, c b; James Johnson, 2d b; Ro- 
bert Cabeen, Wm. Hawk, H. N. Bostwick, Sam'l Allen, 
Edward Swain, James Harrison, John Bessonett, c c; 
Wm. Kinsey, h c. 

1833, Sept. IS.— Same. 

1834, Sept. 8.— Wm. F. Swift, c b ; Jas. R. Scott, 2d b ; Rob't 

Cabeen, John Bessonett, William Hawk, Samuel Allen, 
H. N. Bostwick, James Harrison, Edward Swain, cc; 
Wm. Kinsey, h c. 

1635, Sept. 8— Wm. Hawk, c. b; Jas. R. Scott, 2d b; Samuel 
Allen, H. N. Bostwick, Eleazer Fenton, James Harrison, 
Edward Svvain, John Dorrance, William Kinsey, cc; 
Wm. Killingsworth, h c. 

1836, Sept. 8. — William Kinsey, c b; Benj. Brown, 2d b ; SamH 

Allen, James Harrison, Jonathan Adams, John Heiss« 
David Woodington, Gilbert Tomlinson, Robert Patterson, 
c c ; Timothy Stackhouse, h c. 

1837, Sept. 8. — William Kinsey, c b ; Jos. B. Pennington, 2d b; 

Samuel Allen, James Brudon, David E. Woodington, Ro- 
bert Patterson, Jos. F. Warner, William Killingsworth, 
Wm. F. Swift, c c ; Lewis P. Kinsey, h c. 

1838, Sept. 8.— William Hawk, cb; Jos. B. Pennington, 2d b; 

Chas. W. Peirce, Robert Cabeen, Gilbert Tomlinson, John 
W. Vandegrift, Samuel Allen, John Dorrance, Isaac W. 
Hall, c c ; John Feaster, h c. 

1839, Sept. 7.— William Hawk, c b; Benjamin Blinn, 2d b; 
Samuel Allen, John Dorrance, Robert Cabeen, James 
Irvine, James Johnson, John Johnson, James Brudon, c c ; 
Robert Patterson, h c. 

1840, Sept. 8.— Charles Banes, c b; Benjamin Blinn, 2d b; 
James Johnson, John Wright, John Johnson, James Bru- 
don, James Irvine, William Kinsey, Charles Smith, c c ; 
Robert Patterson, h c. 



44 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 

1841, Sept. 8. — Charles Banes, c b; Benj. Blinn, 2d b; James 
Johnson, James Brudon, James Irvine, John Wright, Wm. 
Kinsey, Andrew W. Gilkeson, James W. Weiss, cc; 
Robert Patterson, h c. 

1S42, Sept. 8 — William Kinsey, c b; Benj. Blinn, 2d b; Lewis 
P. Kinsey, Andrew W. Gilkeson, John Dorrance, Benj. 
Malone, H. N. Bostwick, Samuel Allen, James Brudon, 
c c ; Robert Patterson, h c. 

1843, Sept. 8.— William Kinsey, c b; Benj. Blinn, 2d b; Ches- 

ter Sturdevant, Benjamin Ball, Andrew W. Gilkeson, 
Lewis P. Kinsey, James Brudon, Benjamin Malone, c c ; 
Joseph R,. Hellings, h c. 

1844, Sept. 9. — William Kinsey, cb; Benj. Blinn, 2d b; James 

Johnson, Andrew W. Gilkeson, Robert Patterson, John 
Wright, John Stewart, John K. Holt, Augustus Gerrard, 
c c ; Joseph R. Hellings, h c. 

1845, Sept. 8. — James Brudon, cb; Benj. Blinn, 2d b; Lewis 

P. Kinsey, John Wright, John K. Holt, Andrew W. Gil- 
keson, Robert Patterson, Morton Righter, Jackson Gilke- 
son, c c ; Charles Titus, h c. 

1846, Sept. 8. — Benjamin Malone, c b; Auirustus Gerrard, 2d b ; 

Andrew W. Gilkeson, Wm. R. Phillips, Lewis P. Kinsey, 
Anthony Swain, Henry M. Wright, Jackson Gilheson, 
James Phillips, c c ; Charles Titus, h c. 

1847, Sept. 8. — Mahlon G. Hibbs, c b; Augustus Gerrard, 2d 

b; And. W. Gilkeson, Lewis P. Kinsey, John K. Holt, 
James Brudon, Joseph Wright, Jackson Gilkeson, Wm. 
Kinsey, c c ; Lemuel Nelly, h c. 

1848, Sept. 8.— William Hawk, c. b; Charles Thompson, 2d b; 

Anthony Swain, Samuel Allen, John Eastburn, Wm. H. 
White, Louis A. Hoguet, George C. Johnson, Alexander 
Morrison, c c ; Lemuel Nelly, h c. 

1349, Sept. 8. — Isaac Van Horn, c b; Robert Patterson, 2d b; 
James Brudon, And. W. Gilkeson, John Wright, John 
Davis, John K. Holt, Lewis P. Kinsey, William Earley, 
c c ; Charles Titus, ii c. 

1850, Sept. 7.— Daniel P. Forst, c b ; Wm. H. White, 2d b; John 
Dorrance, Wm. M. Downing, Wm. Killingsworth, John 
W. Bray, Robert Booz, James Rue, Albert L. Packer, c c ; 
Chilion W. Higgs, h c. 



TIMB^S DOINGS. 45 

1851, March 21.— (Elected under new Charter.)— Daniel P. 
Forst, Burgess; John Dorrance, John W. Bray, Wm. M. 
Downing, Robert Booz, Wm. Killingsworth, James Rue, 
A. L. Packer, Wm. H. White, L. A. Hoguet, Council ; 
James Phillips, h c. 

1852, March 19.— William Kinsey, b; William Bache, John W, 

Bray, Wm. M. Downing, Edmund Lawrence, James Rue, 
Daniel Street, Wm. H. White, Henry M. Wright, Joseph 
Wright, c ; Giles S. Winder, h c. 

1853, March 18. — William Kinsey, b; Valentine Booz, Jesse W. 

Knight, James W. Martin, Henry M. Wright, William 
Bache, Edmund Lawrence, Daniel Street, John S. Kin- 
sey, John S. Brelsford, c ; Giles S. Winder, h c. 



5* 



46 niSTORY OF BRISTOL. 

SAINT JAMES' CHURCH. 

OBTAINED, IN PART, FROM A SERMON BY THE RECTOR* 

The original part of the Episcopal Church edifice in Bristol 
was erected in 1712, by the townsmen and others of the neigh- 
borhood, and was dedicated to the honor of St. James the Greater, 
the 25th of July, being the festival of the Apostle. (Church Re- 
cords.) Some of the materials, including most of the brick, used 
in building this Church, were shipped from England. 

This Church edifice is mentioned in the original charter act 
incorporating the town of Bristol, which the reader will see in a 
note on page 17 of this work. The land for erecting the Church 
and for the burial ground was donated by Anthony Burton, a 
gentleman of much note and usefulness in those early times, 
and one of the three first projectors of the town. 

For a period of years the ministry of this Church was sus- 
tained by the ancient British Propagation Society ; however, for 
a long time, its ministrations appear to have been quite abandon- 
ed ; and during the revolutionary war it had become so neglected 
and dilapidated, that it was used as a stabling by the troops wlio 
were posted here. After the peace, this ancient structure was 
thoroughly renovated and enlarged ; and its ministrations were 
now regularly resumed. From the period of its dedication it 
has had fourteen stationed ministers; the present Rector, the 
Rev. Wm. S. Perkins, having been called to the pulpit in the 
year 1834. 

The pews have the old-fashioned high backs; and the whole 
interior of the Church still retains most of its original appear- 
ance. This venerable edifice will seat about 350 persons. 

* On the 22d of June, 1851, the Rev. W. S. Perkins, Rector of 
St. James' Church at Bristol, preached in commemoration of the 
150th anniversary of "the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel 
in Foreign Parts," which sermon contained a brief history of the 
Church. At the request of members the sermon was published in 
pamphlet form ; and it is now the source from which the materia! 
facts in our sketch of the Church are obtained. 



SAINT JAMEs' CHURCH. 47 

There is an excellent and well-toned organ placed in a small 
gallery, used by the choir; which gallery is also used for the 
infant Sunday-school class. 

On the grounds is erected a frame building, used as a lecture 
and Sunday-school room. 

In its ancient and now beautiful burial ground, trees have 
been planted, and family burial lots secured and enclosed. In it 
are still to be found in tolerable preservation, tombstones bearing 
as old, if not older, dates than any other burial place in Penn- 
sylvania. Considerable regard has been paid to keeping many 
of the graves in good order, while not a few of the tombs are 
quite ornamental. Among the more ancient stones now tracea- 
ble, is that of the Sugar family, which bears the coat of arms of 
a Carpenters' Society, chiseled on the top of the stone, consist- 
ing in part of a compass and square, and other devices which 
time has so far obliterated as to be no longer legible. This stone 
records the death of its tenant " August ye 16th, 1734." 

As the name of De Normandie occurs frequently in this book, 
we give the following inscriptions, copied from several stones in 
this ancient yard : 

"Andrew Denormandye dyed ye 10th of Dec. 1724, aged 73 
years."—*' Sarah Denormandye, dyed July 6, 1723, aged 38."— 
•' Andrew Denormandie died May 8, 1726, aged 3 months." — 
" John Anthony Denormandie died June 3, 1748, aged 52 years." 
" John Abraham De Normandie died Nov. 16, 1748, aged 57 

years." " Gaudorett, dyed ye 8th of June, 1725, aged 

61 years." 

The whole value of the church property may be estimated at 
about $7,000. 



48 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 



FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE. 

In consequence of the ancient records of the Friends' Meet- 
ing being uncollected and entrusted into several hands, (none of 
them being deposited with the members residing in the borough,) 
the compiler has used considerable exertion to procure full and 
accurate statistics of its history ; and so far as his object has 
been accomplished, he is altogether indebted to Dr. E. D. Buck- 
man for the collections of its data which here follow : 

" In 1704-5 Samuel Carpenter proposes to give a piece of 
ground for a Meeting-house, burying-place, and for pasture, in 
Bristol, to Friends; which was kindly accepted, and a deed of trust 
executed to Joseph Kirkbride, Tobias Dimmock, Thomas Watson, 
William Beaks, Edward Mays, and William Croasdale, for the 
Baid uses.— Deed dated June 12th, 1711. The deed of trust 
provides that the property shall be for the benefit of the poor 
people of Bristol belonging to said Meeting, &c. — for a place to 
erect and continue a Meeting, and to bury their dead, &c. — (See 
Records at Wrightstown and at Doylestown.) 

" The lot on which the Meeting-house is erected, (south-east 
corner of Market and Wood streets,) was extended by purchase 
from Dr. Henry Disborough, in 1814, for 207 dollars. Another 
lot, at the north-west corner of Cedar and Walnut streets, was 
deeded by John Pemberton and wife to the Society in 1793, for 
educational purposes. 

" In 1707 Bristol Friends desire to have a meeting there once 
in two weeks, on First-days and on week-days ; and in 1710 they 
remove their meeting from Ann May's house to the Widow Ba- 
ker's. In 1713 they want £ 40 to finish their Meeting-house : — 
£ 24 were assessed upon Falls, and £ 16 upon Middletown. 

" In 1714 the Meeting was opened for worship on every First 
day. In 1728 the Meeting-house being in some danger of fall- 
ing, it was repaired: the blacksmith's bill 21. lis. Qd, — (See 
Meeting Records at Wrightstown.)" 

The second story of this old house of worship was formerly 
used for educational purposes, and several of our townsmen of 



friends' meeting-house. 49 

the present clay were school-fellows with the compiler of this 
History of Bristol, in 1821-25, in its rooms. These upper rooms 
have not heen applied to any particular use for some years. 
The old original heavy wooden banister work, benches, «SiC. still 
remain unaltered in the upper story. This ancient Meeting-house 
is also noticed in the original town charter ; and the brick and 
a large proportion of other material used in its construction was 
also obtained from England. 



After the separation of Friends' Society in 1828, a small frame 
building was erected on the north-west corner of Wood and Mul- 
berry streets, since known and used as the Orthodox Friends' 
Meeting-house. 



METHODIST-EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

CONTRIBUTED BY WM. KINSEY, ESQ. 

The original M. E. Church at Bristol was built in the year 
1804: enlarged in 1827, and rebuilt in 1844. The first Meth- 
odist preacher who visited Bristol for the holding of public wor- 
ship, was an officer in the British army before the revolutionary 
war, Capt. Webb, who was a licensed preacher in the M. E. 
Church. His regiment being encamped at Trenton, N. J., he 
visited Bristol, and preached to a large collection of people under 
a chestnut tree, on the ground where the present Church stand?:. 
In 1790 regular circuit preaching was established by the Phila- 
delphia Conference, the preachers and people occupying the old 
Court-house. 

In 1794, through the exertions of Mary Connor, one of the 
first converts to Methodism, money was raised by subscription, 
and the present Church lot, (about half an acre of ground, on 
Wood street, between Mulberry and Walnut,) was purchased ; 
KWil in 1804, (the society having increased,) through her conti- 
nued etfoits, a small brick Church, 20 by 40 feet, one story high, 



50 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 

was built, in which there was reg-ular preaching once in two 
weeks, at nights, by the circuit preachers. The Church was 
occupied by other denominations on various occasions: the cele- 
brated Quaker preacher, John Joseph Gurney, and the eccen- 
tric Lorenzo Dow, with many other eminent divines, occupied 
the pulpit. 

In 1827, under the ministrations of the Rev. H. G. King and 
R. LuTTON, the society greatly increased, and the Church was 
enlarged. And in 1844, the society again finding their church 
too small for the accommodation of the members and the large 
congregation that assembled there, commenced to build the pre- 
sent beautiful and commodious brick edifice, 45 by 60 feet, two 
stories high, with lecture room and class rooms on the basement 
flf)or, and preaching room with a gallery over the stairs and ves- 
tibule, on the upper floor. 

In 1852, under the ministrations of the Rev. Wm. McCombs, 
a beautiful brick parsonage, 22 by 30 feet, with back buildings, 
was erected, and furnished with suitable furniture, the whole at 
a cost of JB 3,000. 

The Church property, (including the parsonage building,) is 
valued at $8,000, and is free from embarrassment. The society 
numbers three hundred members, and has a flourishing Sabbath- 
Bchool of 250 scholars. There is regular service during the 
Sabbath and through the week, by the pastor, Rev. M. H. Sisty, 
who is stationed by the Philadelphia Conference. 



PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

CONTRIBUTED BY THE PASTOR. 

The first movement to erect a place of worship for the Pres- 
byterians in Bristol was made by the Rev. James M. Harlow, 
in the Spring of 1844. In two years after, the Church was 
organized with eleven members, and placed under care of the 
Second Presbytery of Philadelphia. For a while they worshiped 
in the frame building beside the railroad depot, nearly opposite 
the market-house. 



PRKSBYTERIAN CHLRCH. 51 

Their present place of worship, in Radcliffe street above Mar- 
ket, was finished, through the exertions of Mr. Harlow, in 
1846. The Church is a brick structure ; with a gallery over the 
vestibule and stairs for the choir; and a basement story divided 
into two apartments: one occupied as a lecture and Sabbath-school 
room, and the other at present occupied as a female seminary, 
under the charge of Miss E. D. Ward, a graduate of Mount 
Holyoke, Mass. The church will seat about 450 persons. 

The Rev. J. M. Harlow preached for them till 1650, as stated 
supply. The Rev. F. D, Harris was called, and installed the 
Hrst Pastor of the Church on the evening of the 8th of May, 
1851. The Church feels greatly encouraged by the success 
which has thus far crowned their efforts; they have a comforta- 
ble house of worship. 



CHURCH OF SAINT MARK. 

NOTES TAKEN AT A PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH THE RECTOR. 

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Mark was built, under 
the pastoral charge and supervision of the Rev. John Mackin, 
(now of Trenton, N. J.,) in the year 1845, at a cost of about 
$2500. It is situated on the northerly side of Radcliffe street,near 
Adams' Hollow bridge. This Church will seat about 260 per- 
sons; and its regular ministrations are well attended. This 
edifice, which is built of stone, is at present not sufficiently large 
conveniently to accommodate all its attendants with comfortable 
sittings; and it is contemplated either to enlarge the Church or 
erect a new one. 

The Church is under the pastoral charge of the Rev. John C. 
Flannagan. It has a large and well attended Sunday School, 
averaging from 100 to 150 attendants. 

There is a well built and commodious brick parsonage erected 
on the Church lot, and also a burial ground attached and enclosed 
within the premises. The whole of the Church property in 
valued at from four to five thousand dollars. 



52 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 



BAPTIST CHURCH. 

OBTAINED, IN PART, FROM THEIR CHURCH MEMBERS' BOOK. 

The members of this interest, (ori<?inally consisting of fifteen 
in good standing from sister Churches,) after holding several 
preparatory meetings, again convened on the 29t}i of September, 
1848, and were then in Council of Ministers, regularly consti- 
tuted the First Baptist Church of Bristol Borough. Their char- 
ter of incorporation was granted on the application of members, 
by the proper Court of Bucks county, on the 3d of May, 1850. 
On the 2d of February of the same year, by a resolution in 
Church meeting, the Rev. Christian J. Page was called to the 
pastoral care and oversight of the Church. 

The members soon had increased to nearly one hundred In 
number, and for some time held statedly divine worship in the 
lecture room of the Washington Hall. 

Having sold their building lot on Otter street, and secured a 
suitable piece of ground on the south-east corner of Walnut and 
Cedar streets, for building a Cliurch, contracts were entered 
into with mechanics: and on the 18t,h of June, 1851, the work 
had so far progressed as to admit of the laying of the corner 
stone of a handsome church edifice, composed of brown sand- 
stone, laid in square blocks, hammer-dressed and pointed. The 
proportions are — main room, 43 by 70 feet ; above the vestibule 
is a projecting tower of 7 feet, having 5 feet recess. Basement 
story has three rooms : a lecture room, 41 by 38 feet, which will 
seat about 300 persons ; and two committee rooms, one of which 
is now used for school purposes, and the other for the meetings 
of the Trustees. The main audience chamber will seat about 
450 persons; has 82 pews on the main floor: with a gallery 
which will seat an additional 100 persons. 

The whole property is estimated to be worth about eight 
thousand dollars. 



MASONIC LODGE. 53 



BRISTOL LODGE, NO. 25, ANCIENT YORK 

MASONS. 

CONTRIBUTED BY 3IAJ0R D. M. KEIM, SECRETARY, 

The limits prescribed for this work necessarily induces the 
writer of this narrative, to abridge much of the information he 
has obtained respecting the rise and progress of this " time- 
honored" institution among us. 

The original Warrant, dated March 15, 1780, was granted by 
the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, under the masonic 
administration of the 

R. W. William Ball, as Grand Master ; 

" William Shute, Deputy Grand Master; 

" Alexander Rutherford, Sen. G. Warden; 

" Jacob Howell, Junior Grand Warden ; — 
authorizing and appointing Brs. John Clark, W. M. ; Samuel 
Benezet, S. W. ; and Dr. William McIlvaine, J. W., " to hold 
a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at the town of Bristol, 
in the State of Pennsylvania, or any where within five miles of 
the said town— No. 25."— In connexion witii the Brethren thus 
officially designated, Brs. Tyrringham Palmer, Jacob Shallus, 
and Patrick Griffin, as the constitutional number of members 
requisite, had united in the petition to the Grand Lodge, and 
obtained the warrant. 

Under these auspices the labours of the Lodge were com- 
menced and conducted with energetic zeal, securing the most 
prosperous and satisfactory results. Every profession or occupa- 
tion soon were enrolled among its members; and at that eventful 
period in the annals of our country, it is gratifying to find the 
" Mcllvaines, Bloomfield, Willett, Bessonet, Rodman, Wilkinson, 
John Fitch," and similar illustrious personages, assembling around 
its simple altar. — John Fitch then resided near the Neshaminy 
creek, and was engaged upon those experiments since so wonder- 
fully developed, of propelling boats by the povver of steam. — His 
membeiship dates January 4, 1785. 

6 



54 HISTORY OF BRISTOt. 

On June 4, 1786, the propriety of continuing under the juris- 
diction of the Grand Lodge of England engaged the considera- 
tion of the Order generally : when Bristol Lodge unanimously 
selected their worthy Br. John Clark to represent them in the 
Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge, to be holden in 
Philadelphia September 26, 1786, with especial instructions upon 
the subject. Thirteen of the Colonial Lodges were then and 
there assembled ; and, after mature and serious deliberation, 
unanimously resolved, " That it is improper the Grand Lodge of 
Pennsylvania should remain any longer under the authority of 
any foreign Grand Lodge." — Thus was originated the present 
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. 

The Provincial Warrant of Bristol Lodge was then surren- 
dered, and the present Warrant obtained, dated the 9th day or 
July, 1789, under the administration of the 

R. W. J. B. Smith, as Grand Master ; 

" George Ord, Deputy Grand Master; 

" Joseph Dean, Senior Grand Warden ; 

" Joseph Few, Junior Grand Warden ; — 
renewing in perpetuity all the original rights and privileges per- 
taining to the Lodge, through Brs. William McIlvaine, as W. 
M. ; Samuel Benezet, S. W. , and John Clark, \. W. 

From this period to the close of the war of 1812, a largely in- 
creased accession of members was made to the Lodge, and its 
unobtrusive but ennobling influences were every where exercised 
and felt. 

Don Louis de Onis, then Minister Plenipotentiary from H. C. 
M. of Spain, became a member July 22, 1814. 

During the year 1815, the brethren resolved upon the erection 
of a iMasonic Hall, and procured a spacious lot, on Cedar street, 
for the purpose. Through the zealous cooperation of the brethren 
the necessary funds and materials were speedily obtained, and a 
Hall erected for masonic uses only. It was built of stone, two 
and a-half stories in height, and 36 by 20 feet in its breadth and 
depth, (o-round dimensions.) Its facade, though simple, was im- 
posing ; — the main entrance being approached by a flight of steps, 
ovpr.shadowed, (as many of your readers will recollect,) by an 



MASONIC LODGE. 55 

ancient trailing rose, that in the season of bloom was most gor- 
geous and attractive. 

" The Lodge was consecrated November 18, 1815, with full 
masonic obs'ervances, and the attendance of brethren from all 
parts of the country. 

With slight interruptions, the Lodge has continued its opera- 
tions to the present period, with unalloyed success. 

The primitive Hall was found much too limited for the assem- 
blages of the brethren ; who, after a careful consideration of the 
subject, resolved, " that it is expedient to erect a new Hall, em- 
bracing in capacity, ventilation, and adaptation, the increased 
requirements of the craft." 

The site of the old Hall was selected as that for the erection 
of the new; and during the Summer of 1853, the former was 
taken down, and the present elegant superstructure reared upon 
ils foundation. It is built of brick; to be stuccoed in imitation 
of stone ; and in dimensions is 36 by 56 feet, and two stories in 
height. Its style of architecture is the pointed, or Gothic ; and 
for beauty of design, or classical taste, it claims a prominent 
place among the public buildings of this ancient borough. 

The Building Committee have been unwearied in their super- 
intendence; and the best materials have been employed in its 
erection— no expense or labour having been stinted, that would 
render it in every respect an appropriate Temple for the ob- 
servances of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Its completion, in a 
short time, will no doubt render it a vast auxiliary to the extension 
of the charitable influences and tenets of this Universal Order. 

The Building Committee consist of, Brs. Allan Downing, 
William Kinsey, Andrew W. Gilkeson, John Dorrance, J. 
H. ScHENCK, M. D., ex-officio as Trustees, and Brs. L. H. Scott, 
PuGH DuNGAN, and James W. Martin. 

The number of members, in active communion with the Lodge, 
is, at present, fifty-three. 



56 



HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 



WASHINGTON HALL. 

PROM NOTES FURNISHED BY A. W. GILKESON, ESQ. 

This three storied brick edifice, situated at the westerly cor- 
ner of Radcliffe and Walnut streets, was erected by a subscrip- 
tion stock company, expressly with the laudable design of sup- 
plying that much wanted desideratum — a Public Hall adapted 
to the general convenience of the people, and for the accommo- 
dation of the several popular societies of the day, which had 
sprung into existence among the citizens of Bristol and vicinity, 

" The first meeting which was held for the purpose of building 
this Hall, convened June 17, 1846 ; and it was then proposed to 
confine the subscriptions to the building among the Odd Fellows, 
(Hopkins Lodge, No. 87,) for whose accommodation it was in the 
outset originally designed. But after consideration among the 
members, and consultation with the citizens, the proposition was 
modified to allow any one to buy shares from the original pro- 
jectors and stockholders, provided the same was first oflfered to 
Hopkins Lodge, and declined, as it now stands. 

" August 16, 1847, the building was commenced," and now 
accommodates several societies and organizations particularly 
mentioned on page 27 of this work; and also the "Franklin 
Building Association," since instituted, (November 7, 1853.) 

" April 7, 1848, the charter was granted, under which Trus- 
tees were elected, and have since been annually chosen." 

The lower story, or Lecture Room, is transiently rented for 
all purposes of public interest or pastime. 



The "BRISTOL TOWNSHIP BIBLE AND TRACT 
SOCIETY " was instituted March 8, 1852 ; " for the purpose of 
supplying the Borough and its neighborhood, and as soon as pos- 
sible the Township, and the sailors and boatmen frequenting the 
waters of Bristol, with Bibles and Tracts ; and every child, who 
can read, with a Testament." — President, John Magoffin; Se- 
cretary, D. P. FoRST ; Treasurer, Thomas Callanan. 



rtBLIC SCHOOLS. 57 

FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL. 

FROM NOTES TAKEN BY DR. E. D. BUCKMAN, SECRETARY. 

Tlie present Public School-House was built in 1837, at an ex- 
pense of 84,936 85. About $1100 were afterwards expended 
in finishing the basement, supplying furniture, stoves, &c., and 
grading the grounds: making the cost of that property about 
$6,000. It is divided into male and female departments, with a 
primary school in the basement. The male department was put 
in charge of James Anderson, at a salary of S 650 a year, and the 
school was opened on the 15th of December, 1837. He remained 
in charge until March 1, 1840, when the schools were closed for 
want of funds. The school was reopened in May, and N. F. De 
Brown was chosen Teacher at §500 a year. July 30, 1841, J. V. 
Buckman was selected to take charge of the school, which situ- 
ation he still retains. 

In August, 1851, Miss S. J. Thompson was selected to assist 
him. She retained her situation until February, 1852, when she 
resigned, and Miss Elizabeth Burrows was elected to the va- 
cancy. Miss Burrows was, in April, 1853, promoted to the situa- 
tion of Principal of the Female Department, and Miss Sarah T. 
Brown elected to the vacancy, which situation she still holds. 

The Female Department was organized in Dec'r, 1837, and 
placed in charge of Annah N. Smith, who retained her situation 
at a salary of 8 300 a year, until Nov'r, 1838, when she resigned, 
and Fidelia Smith was elected ; which situation she held until 
March, 1839, when the schools were closed for want of funds. On 
the re-opening of the school, (in May following,) it was placed un- 
der the charge of Harriet Schneider, at a salary of 8250 a year. 
She resigned her situation in July, 1840, and Alice Frame was 
employed as her successor. Alice resigned her situation in 
April, 1841, and Miss Mahitable P. Moody succeeded her for a 
short time, when she was succeeded by Sarah Pearson, who was 
employed in January, 1843. Miss Pearson resigned in October, 
1845, and Miss Huldah Hoag was elected to the vacancy. In 
May, 1848, Miss Sarah Warner was elected to the vacancy oc- 



5? HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 

casioned by the resignation of Miss Hoag. Miss Warner resiiju- 
ed in 1851, and Miss M. L. Ernest was employed as Principal, 
and Miss Matilda Goodwin as her assistant, at $ 15 per month. 
Miss Goodwin resigned in 1852, and Miss Anna V. Thompson 
succeeded her. In April, 1853, the Principal (Mrs. Lawrence,) 
resigned her situation, and Miss E. Burrows succeeded her. 
Miss Thompson resigned immediately afterwards, and Miss 
Anne Davis was elected to the vacancy: which situations are 
retained by them at the present time. 

The Primary School was first organized in November, 1830, 
under the management of Miss Nancy Cummings, at a salary of 
S 250 a year. It was closed the March follovving for want of 
finids, and opened again in May, under the control of Miss Ade- 
line Cummings, at $22 a month, (220 a year.) In October of 
the same year she resigned, and Melissa Young was employed. 
In Sept'r, 1841, Miss Young resigned, and Mrs. Sarah Swift was 
enjployed at -^200 a year. In August, 1842, Miss S. Townsend 
was employed to assist her, at fifty dollars a year. In May, 
1843, M.»'s. vSwift and Miss Hastings were jointly employed at 
fifteen dollars a month each. In December Miss Hastings was 
made Principal of the school : which situation she resigned in 
December, 1844, and Miss Roxanna Leonard succeeded her at 
sixteen dollars a month. Miss Leonard resigned in October, 
1845, and Mrs. Swift was made Principal of the school, and her 
daughter Matilda the Assistant, at a joint salary of $240 a year, 
which was afterwards increased to $ 270, and subsequently to 
$ 300. TIk; school still continues under their management. 

Directorship. — In 1837, Gilbert Tomlinson, David E. Wood- 
ington, James Johnson, James Harrison, Jonathan Adams, and 
William Kinsey were Directors. 

It had been agreed by vote of the citizens that $ 3,000 should 
be raised by tax for building the school ; but Borough Council 
borrowed that sum and donated it to the school ; and they after- 
wards appropriated $1,936 85, out of a Borough loan, in the 
same manner. The Borough also leased to the Board of Directors 
for 99 years, the lot, 59 by 110 feet, on which the house is erect- 
ed, (at the north-east corner of Wood and Mulberry streets, where 



PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 59 

the old Lock-up formerly stood.) They afterwards donated the 
balance of the square to the use of the Public Schools. 

The expense of building the house, &.C., was 84,936 85. — 
Tax levied for 1837, 848 88 dollars. The school was opened 
the 15th of December; and in March, 1838, J. V. Buckman 
and James Brudon were elected Directors. — Tax levied 682 dol- 
lars; State appropriation, 170 dollars. In June J. Adams re- 
si^med, and C. W. Peirce was elected to fill the vacancy. In 
May, 1839, James Johnson, James Harrison, and C. Sturdevant 
were elected Directors. — Tax levied, 811 dollars; State appro- 
priation, 170 dollars. It was found that there had been infor- 
mality in the time of electing Directors, and in consequence of 
which, tliey all resigned, and the following were elected: Win. 
Kinsey, C. Sturdevant, for one year; J. V. Buckman, Jas, Bru- 
don, for two years; Charles Banes, James Harrison, for three 
years. In this year the basement story was finished as a school 
room. The financial affairs became so much embarrassed that in 
March, 1840, the schools were closed until enabled to resume, upon 
the collect ion of the taxes. The taxes levied for that year amount- 
ed to 879 dollars, and ti)e State appropriation 305 dollars. In Sep- 
tember, 1840, VVm. Kinsey and A. W. Gilkeson were elected 
Directors. The tax for 1841 was 918 dollars. In 1842, 1070 
dollars, — E. B. Dodson and Jonathan Mil nor elected Directors. 
1643, tax 861 ; State appropriation 403 dollars. — C. Banes and 
C. W. Peirce elected Directors. Mr. Dodson resigned, and 
David Trump succeeded him ; he left the town, and Dr. B. Ma- 
lone was his successor. 1844, tax 1100 dollars; State appropri- 
ation, '2'Sl dollars. — VVm. Kinsey and A. W. Gilke^on elected. 
1845, tax 900 dollars; Pugh Dungan and Dr. A. Guerard elect- 
ed. C. Banes resigned and Dr. B. Malone elected. 1846, tax 
1200 dollars; State appropriation, 220 dollars. — A. VV. Gilkeson, 
Wm. Kinsey and J. W. Stackhouse elected. — Pugh Dungan re- 
signed, and C. W. Peirce elected. 1847, tax 900 dollars ; State 
appropriation 200 dollars; — L. T. Pratt and J. Stackhouse elect- 
ed. 1848, tax 1,000 dollars; State 200 dollars;— Joshua Fell 
and Thomas Scott elected. 1849, tax 1,000 dollars; State 200 
dollars; — Joshua Fell and J. Stackhouse moved away, and H. N. 
Bostwick and Isaac Van Horn elected. 1850, tax 1200 dollars; 



60 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 

State 200 dollars; — Wm. Kinsey and A. W. Gilkeson elected 
for three years ; J. D. Mendenhall for two years, and L. P. Kin- 
sey for one year. 1851, tax 1500 dollars ; State 200 ;— Dr. E. D. 
Biickman and L. M. Wharton elected. 1852, tax 1990 dollars; 
State 200 ;— D. P. Forst and Thos. Callanan elected Directors. 
1353: J. D. Mendenhall and F. \V. Swan elected Directors. 



PUBLIC SCHOOL, No. 2.— The present school-house being 
found inadequate to accommodate the children of the town, mea- 
sures were taken in 1852 to provide for building- another, A 
lot known as the '* Baptist lot" was purchased at a cost of S400. 

In the Summer of 1853 it was fully determined to commence 
the building of School House, No. 2; to meet the expense of 
which an Act of Assembly was obtained allowing Directors to 
borrow 3,000 dollars, and to create a sinking fund for the extin- 
guishment of the debt within fifteen years. — A tax of 2800 dol- 
lars was also levied for the purpose of paying balance of claims 
due and for the current expenses of the school year. 

School House No. 2 is a handsome Gothic structure, of light 
sandstone, built in broken range work, and pointed in white ; — 
finished with a cupola ; — in all, constituting one of the hand- 
somest public buildings in the town. It contains all the modern 
improvements for ventilation and heating. Its dimensions are 53 
by 35 feet: two stories high. The interior arrangement is, for a 
school-room, 32 by 36 feet, and a class-room 13 by 18 feet, in 
each story ; also two entrances and stairways, as a means of 
egress in case of accident, such as has occurred at various times 
in Philadelphia and New York. The contract price is $4400; 
Edmund Lawrence contracting for the whole building, with 
Valentine Booz, a sub-contractor for doing the stone-work. 

This School House is now (Nov. '53,) nearly completed, and 
is expected to be entirely so about the middle of Dec. next. 



THE END. 



MAR IS ma 




10 






